These are a lovely pair of circa 1920-30 classic Copeland Spode natural history plates with hand-colored bird scenes, very much in the tradition of 18th–19th century English wildlife illustration.

 Measurements: 9”

 Condition:  Beautiful condition, no chips or cracks, there is some minor wear  to the gilt rim 

🐦 Bird Identification

Left Plate

The bird is a European Goldfinch

How to tell:

• Bright red face mask
• Black-and-white head
• Distinct yellow wing bar
• Warm brown back and pale underside

Description:
The European Goldfinch is one of the most recognizable and colorful small songbirds of Europe. It’s often associated with:

• Thistle plants (a favorite food source)
• Light, agile perching on thin branches
• Musical, tinkling song

Artistic note:
This species was extremely popular in decorative arts and paintings—especially in the Georgian and Victorian periods—because of its vivid coloring and symbolic associations with nature and delicacy.

Right Plate

The bird appears to be a Common Redshank (or a closely related wading bird)

How to tell:

• Slender, upright stance
• Long legs (typically reddish, though subtly rendered here)
• Brown upperparts
• Pale underside with a warm reddish wash on the belly
• Set in a waterside landscape

Description:
The Common Redshank is a shorebird (wader) commonly found along:

• Marshes
• Riverbanks
• Coastal wetlands

They are known for:

• Their alert posture
• Sharp, whistling calls
• Constant movement along shallow water edges

Artistic note:
Wading birds like this were frequently depicted in English ceramics to evoke pastoral landscapes and the natural world—especially in sets meant to feel educational or refined.

Markings:  The plate is marked as shown in the 4th photo