Bidspirit auction | A Late Victorian Thomas Rathbone

A Late Victorian Thomas Rathbone and Co Portobello Pottery Earthenware Cheese Dish and Stand This late Victorian earthenware cheese dish and stand was produced by Thomas Rathbone and Co at the Portobello Pottery in Scotland. The set comprises a high, domed, rectangular lid with a shaped, scrolling edge and a moulded rococo-style handle, sitting on a matching shaped rectangular stand. The lid is decorated with a combination of underglaze flow blue scrollwork and polychrome transfer-printed floral sprays that have been hand-coloured, finished with gilded accents. The interior of the lid features a hand-painted red number 1278. The stand is decorated with a pink transfer-printed border featuring a repeating scale motif and small floral sprigs. The underside of the stand bears a red transfer-printed mark featuring a swan above a ribbon inscribed TRADE MARK, the word BELL, and the letters T R and Co followed by a small T. The differing decorative styles and colours between the lid and base suggest they may be a contemporary or later marriage.