This is a hard to find cheese dome by London Dairy Supply on a Wonderful dairy slab which reads “FINEST ENGLISH CHEESES” It is a heavy Ironstone stand.  The rare bell features the British Coat of Arms printed in black at the front.  It has a ribbed knob finial with a breathe hole at top.   The crested front has two French sayings:  “Dieu et mon droit" across the bottom of the coat of arms and “Honi soit qui mal y pense.”  The reason for the French sayings on the Royal Coat of Arms is interesting and goes back centuries:

“Dieu et mon droit" – meaning “God and my right” – is the motto of the monarchy and was adopted by Henry V in the 15^th Century.  It was first used as a battle cry by King Richard the First as he went into battle against Philip II of France in 1198.  

“Honi soit qui mal y pense” – meaning “Shame on he who thinks evil of it” – goes back to King Edward III, when Norman French was a common language in the UK. The phrase is the motto of the Order of the Garter, set up by the King as a revival of the Knights of the Round Table, and legend goes that it originates from a chivalrous act at a ball where Edward was dancing with Joan of Kent, his cousin and daughter-in-law, when her garter slipped down her leg to her ankle, causing other guests to laugh.  To spare her blushes, Edward apparently placed the garter around his own leg saying, "Honi soit qui mal y pense.”

  Measures: Under tray is appx 10” x 2” Dome is 8" diameter and stands 6 1/2"  to top of finial.

Condition: Very good, no chips or cracks 

 
To learn more about English transferware and see it in many practical and decorative uses please visit me at one of the places below:

BLOG: www.nancysdailydish.blogspot.com
PINTEREST: www.pinterest.com/transferware
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/English-Transferware/277105748523
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Featured on Etsy November 2012:

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/collecting-english-transferware-one-womans-story