This medium blue pearlware plate features a pair of enterprising peddlers, busy carrying their wares of produce and fish. They approach the foreground courtyard on a footbridge from the tile-roofed compound on the right. Their arrival is anticipated by pair of spear bearing fishermen.  A mother and child observe the interchange from a nearby pavilion -- elaborately draped and complete with  Chinese fret balustrade, tile roof, and a curious weathervane. (The child seems especially captivated by all the activity).   In the background, a standing oarsman escorts a lone passenger toward a distant enclave and mountains, extending the scene into infinity.

Four scenic reserves around the border on the narrow flange of the plate continue the motif of the harbor side pavilion. These  reserves alternate with decorative scroll work arrangements.  Looking closer at these decorative arrangements, one notes the playful interchange of a lute player perched on one scroll entertaining a little Chinaman tucked into the flourishes on his left.

The best reference to Stevenson's "Chinese Traders" comes from A.W. Coysh, Blue-Printed Earthenware, 1800-1850 (p. 82, il no. 104).  Coysh includes not only the illustration of this plate accompanied by an explanatory listing, but also a discussion of the Stevenson family of potters.

Relatively scarce, this is the first example of Andrew Stevenson's "Chinese Traders" pattern we have had the opportunity to offer..