Maker: Rathbone  Pattern: The Font

By Thomas Rathbone & Co of the Midlothian Pottery, Portobello near Edinburgh Scotland active 1810 to 1845. 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.
Impressed circular backstamp with Stone China and TR&Co round a crown in the centre. Large blue printed fountain and tree backstamp with The Font beneath.
Printed in quite a darkish blue the face of this plate is fine, except there are utensil marks and on close inspection it clearly has been used. Some wear and mottling on the rim. The back is a bit of a manufacturing disaster with splodgy and incomplete glaze and grit in the glaze, so not a great day for the glazier. In reality there is not actually much wrong with this plate and it will look fine on display.

Dimensions: 25.5 cm / 10 ins