Lot 59 , A rare William de Morgan ruby lustre dish, c.1880, 31.2cm diameter

A rare William de Morgan ruby lustre dish, c.1880, painted on a Staffordshire earthenware blank dish in ruby lustre with a grotesque dragon headed bird in mirror image, unmarked,

cf. The Designs of William de Morgan, a Catalogue by Martin Greenwood, p.207 - 214 for similar mirror image grotesque creature designs mostly painted on Staffordshire blanks. 31.2cm diameter
£3,000-5,000

Condition:
Typical fine crazing to the glaze all over. There is very slight scuffing to the ruby lustre decoration around the well central well of the dish, occasional small patches of fritting to the edge of the dish and some wear to the foot of the dish consistent with age and use, other occasional minor scratching to the ruby lustre on the reverse, otherwise in good condition with no restoration chips or cracks detected.

Sold for £6,000