A shaped rectangular meat platter with a deep raspberry-claret border and a scalloped rim banded in gold, set with gilt leaf panels. The white centre is painted with a family crest: a black griffin rearing on a gold-and-black wreath, under a pink ribbon with the Italian motto "Ha persa la fede, ha perso l'honore" ("Who has lost faith has lost honour"). An old collector's label on the back reads "Platter, Rasberry colored border, 785."
The griffin and motto belong to the Lewis family of St Pierre, near Chepstow in Monmouthshire, who held the estate from around 1400 until about 1910. Fairbairn's Crests and Burke's Commoners both record this crest and motto for them. Services like this were ordered from English porcelain makers with the family's crest painted on every piece, and the claret ground and heavy gilding were the height of Regency fashion.
Condition: Good. Fine crazing to the glaze throughout and light wear to the gilding. Old handwritten collection label on the back.
