Vintage Crown Ducal hand painted  botanical plates depicting a plethora of lusciously ripened fruits. Strawberries, Apples, Raspberries, Pear, Peaches, Nectarines, Blueberries, Currents and more...so many beautiful fruits detailed on these pieces.   The main pattern is transfer printed with highlights, accents, shading and color all hand painted by artists of the English pottery firm. They have burgundy borders with gilded laurel leaf trim.  I believe these were done under the direction of Reuben Hague as I have had several other plates from Crown Ducal which were signed by Hague himself.  These may have been one of the other talented artists who worked there at the time.

Reuben Hague was born in 1880 and by the time he was just 13 years old he was apprenticed as a China painter at Royal Crown Derby.   He later worked as a freelance china painter in Stoke on Trent beginning in 1906 for some time and then returned to Royal Crown Derby.  His paintings and works he did during this time are some of the most costly Royal Crown Derby pieces. He painted a large number of tiles for export, and many were used in the palaces of eastern potentates. The subjects were very large for the period, representing life size mermaids and other mythological figures. Following this, Reuben moved on to designing ceramic pieces for Thomas Hulme and the Universal Company. Earlier, concurrent with his apprenticeship, he attended the Derby College of Art. Like so many Derby artists, he was very fond of watercolour paintings - landscapes in particular. Later he again worked for Royal Crown Derby on a freelance basis, painting the well-renowned portraits and reproductions of the Old Masters. In 1946 Reuben trained his son Douglas, already a ceramic designer, to become a skilled portrait painter. Just over 20 years later (1969), Reuben Hague passed away.

 Stamped on back with potter firm and floral identification.   They are stunning!

Measures: just under 9"

Condition: No chips or cracks, there is some crazing