REGENCY c. 1816 Leamington Spa Royal Pump Rooms ENGLISH Celebration Platter
Height: approx. 2 1/2 inches tall
Dimensions: approx. 20 1/4 inches x 16 inches
Weight: approx. 2050 g
Maker's Marks: N/A
Notes / other details: A strong, heavy, and large celebration platter in the colour palette white and blue, featuring and celebrating the Leamington Baths after an aquatint by S & J Fuller circa 1816. Visible in the image are the Royal Pump Rooms in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire County, England. The platter is footed and there are some shallow indentations on the bed of the platter allowing the juices of roasted meat to flow to a specially crafted well at the far end of the platter.
This celebration platter, steeped in the rich heritage of early 19th century England, is a testament to the grandeur of high society's dining rituals. The intricate blue and white tableau, featuring the famed Royal Pump Rooms of Leamington Spa, is more than a decorative motif; it is a narrative woven in ironstone, capturing the essence of Regency England's elite social landscape.
Adorned with a scene derived from an aquatint by S & J Fuller circa 1816, this platter not only served the finest roasts but also a slice of history. The genteel society of the time would recognise the Royal Pump Rooms as the epicenter of wellness and socialisation, frequented by the aristocracy and gentry seeking the curative properties of the spa waters.
The design embodies a sophisticated interplay of form and function; the footed elevation and the considered indentations are engineering feats of the era. These indentations are a deliberate and refined solution for the elegant presentation of succulent meats, allowing juices to collect in a specially crafted well—a feature that would have been indispensable in the orchestration of an opulent feast.
Absent of maker's marks, this platter possibly hails from a lineage of bespoke artisanal craft, designed exclusively for a patron of discerning taste. It is not merely a platter but an heirloom, commanding the attention of connoisseurs and collectors who not only wish to own a piece of history but to partake in the legacy of Regency England's lavish dining customs.