This medium blue transfer pearlware platter offers us a moment of suspense and a glimpse into the natural world of predation. Beneath an oddly Chinese looking tree a leopard lies close to the ground, stalking a nearby antelope--clearly with no friendly motives in mind. In the background is a European style rustic cottage whose inhabitants would likely be shocked to view such exotic animals in their yard. As for the unaware gazelle--perhaps he makes his escape just in time. This imaginative scene is framed by a border of large scale passion flowers and peonies

Since Staffordshire potters often found their most fertile inspiration in the products of their competitors, it is no surprise to find other patterns of the era featuring similar animal vignettes framed with exhuberant floral borders. Nice companions for our leopard can be found in Rogers' "Zebra" and "Elephant" patterns or Riley's "Dromedary."

This pattern, also known as "Leopard and Antelope," is based on an engraving by Thomas Bewick.