Revealing an elegance and refinement more typical of porcelain than stone china, this Masons plate centers on a traditional Chinese garden scene with fence, screen, and exotic plants--but executed with more precision than most similar Masons patterns. Reserves in the borders feature birds and plants depicted in a complimentary style.

What most distinguishes this design, however, is the elaborate gilding on the border which creates a complex filigree against the salmon ground and, in the small scalloped reserves, creates a golden silhouette image of a bird on a branch. Finally one last touch of elegance is achieved in the blank itself with a gently molded pleat and panel flange detail ending with a softly scalloped edge.  

When one happens across an unknown pattern, which nevertheless exhibits unmistakable traits of a known potter, one recalls that english potters were on occasion commissioned to make replacement pieces for imported Chinese sets--although Spode is much better known for this practice than Masons. The results are often spectacular and approach a one-of-a-kind status.