Maker: Rathbone  Pattern: The Font

Spode are usually given the credit for introducing this design in 1823, although at least five other makers also produced it and the original name seems to have been The Font or simply Font rather than Girl at Well, which is what is is generally called today. A Font was a construction to gather or channel water bubbling up from a natural spring.
This large platter is attributed to Thomas Rathbone & Co of the Midlothian Pottery Portobello near Edinburgh Scotland. It has a large blue printed fountain on the back with THE FONT beneath and marked examples are known by Rathbone with this mark.
Thomas Rathbone was of the Staffordshire family of that name and was potting at Portobello from 1810 to 1845.
This platter has runnels and well for the gravy and stands on a high thin oval foot rim which has a small unsprung chip on its inner surface. The face of the platter is clean and bright with a tiny glaze blemish and minor signs of wear.
A dramatic display piece in lovely condition.

Dimensions: 53 cm x 40.5 cm / 21 ins x 16 ins