Friday Flowers on a Plate

Last week I told you about our trip to Hungerford. What I didn't mention was that in the bargain basement of one of the antique centres I found a plate. A huge plate, a huge plate which was once broken in half and repaired, a huge plate with hand painted flowers and a scalloped edge, a huge plate almost 2 feet across.

The conversation in my head went...

Oh wow a beautiful huge plate.

£4.50 ??? !!!!

Huge repair.

Hand painted, love the Tulip and the Morning Glories.

Italian???

Too big, where will I put it?

Love the shape, just not sure that it's me.

Leave it Georgie it's TOO BIG.

So head ruled heart and I left it behind and I've thought about it on and off ever since....why do I never learn? If it speaks to you buy it, especially if it costs £4.50. But I wasn't going to drive an hour each way just to see if it was still there.

Then on Tuesday, a text from Julienne, "Are you passing the shop today?".

I had to go to the Post Office, so popped into the shop and guess what? You've guessed....she had the plate!!

She and her husband Charlie had returned to Hungerford to pick up a table she had fallen in love with in Martin and the Magpie, and she made a special trip to see if the plate was still there....and it was.

To say it is huge is an understatement. To say it is beautiful is a matter of personal taste. I'm thinking it's a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.

I love it Thank You Julienne, and she wouldn't let me pay for it.

I've been doing some research, it is indeed Italian, from Nove Ceramics just outside Venice, a company that has been producing pottery since the 1700s. I'm not sure how old it is but probably 1930s to 1950s, mending china with metal staples went out of favour in the late 50s due to new glues being developed.

Someone loved it enough to have it repaired. And now I have it, love it and just have to find somewhere to hang it once the very expensive heavy duty plate hanger arrives from Australia!!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Georgie

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