Rare Transferware Childs Spiritual Psalm Plate
EVENING SONG
Staffordshire England c1865

This is rare Staffordshire transferware childs plate with a spiritual or religious psalm or hymn, dated 1865. The octogaonal plate measures 6 inches in diameter with a moulded daisy floral border hand painted in blue green and burgundy maroon. Transfer printed in burgundy maroon and finished with a thin pearlware glaze. It is decorated with the Isaac Watts Welsh EVENING SONG:

I lay my body down to sleep,
Let angels guard my head;
And, through the hours of darkness, keep
Their watch around my bed.

With cheerful heart I close mine eyes,
Since thou wilt not remove;
And in the morning let me rise
Rejoicing in thy love.

The plate is marked with an impressed date stamp for the year 1865. The maker is unknown but it likely hails from the Staffordshire potting region in England, though it may have been made by one of the Welsh or Yorkshire potteries.

The plate is in great condition, with no chips, cracks, or repairs. A tiny glaze pit on the back. Stilt marks original to the making. Sold as is. Plates like these were made as gifts for good children and used at home and at school as an aid to their education and moral learning and rewards of merit for young students in the early to mid 19th century. A fine example of early English toy ceramics and educational pottery. The plate will make a wonderful addition to any collection of transferware religious plates, or any collection of early school education history.