Minton Porcelain Pheasants Birds Cabinet Plate Joseph Wareham c.1850

A pretty Minton dessert plate with a bleu celeste ground reserving a shaped border inside the shaped rim, with ornate gilt decoration. The centre, also edged in gilt, is exceptionally well painted in a naturalistic manner with a pair of exotic pheasants in a shrubby landscape with small fence and flowering plants, the female perched in a small tree. Probably painted by Joseph Wareham; the style, quality and arrangement appearing identical to pieces attributed to Wareham. Painted number 39 inside the foot rim and group of three impressed marks in the centre. The glaze makes it difficult to read them and you certainly cannot see them clearly in the photograph but likely c.1845-1850. Reference: Minton Pottery & Porcelain Of The First Period, Godden, plate 43, 25, 127 and page 128.