Here we have an extremely rare signed Davenport game dish.  The lid and base are made to resemble a highly decorated pie crust.  The lid is decorated with applied and raised acanthus leaves around an opening fruit handle.  The base is decorated with a rope twist trellis and bands.  Measuring 8 ¾” in length, 4 ¼” to the rim and 7” to the top of the finial handle on the lid, this is very tall for a game dish.  This is in near mint condition with loss to 2 of the acanthus leaves and wear on the edge of the lid.  This game dish is so highly decorated these losses aren’t obvious and don’t detract.  There is no other damage or repairs.  The underside of the base is impressed with the DAVENPORT anchor mark.  The numbers “6” and “0” on either side of the anchor are the date mark for 1860.  Curiously, the number “21” above the anchor is a “Tally” number for the factory worker who molded the game dish prior to firing in the kiln.  Many workers got paid when the wares they made were finished and ready for selling, hence they had their own identification number.  John Davenport opened his pottery in Longport, Staffordshire in 1794.  He, among other potters, was in competition with Wedgwood and created unique and beautiful pottery as a result.  His pottery is not often found and is highly desired and collectable.