Dating back to 1691, this rare tin-glazed earthenware ceramic plate was made to commemorate King William III who ruled England, Scotland and Ireland along with his wife Queen Mary II from 1689 - 1702. It features a portrait of the King in the centre, flanked by his initials ‘KW’ and surrounded by a floral border. The piece has a lobed-style edge and is decorated with blue, yellow and green on a white background, as is quite common with Delftware from this period.
Condition
The plate had been broken in the past and repaired with an unknown adhesive. To support these repairs, the plate had been lined with a fabric, which had discoloured and darkened over time. Since then, many years of surface dirt had built up and become ingrained in the various cracks and crevices. There were also numerous areas of loss and some joins were found to be slightly misaligned or incorrectly placed.
Treatment
ICS was commissioned by the National Trust’s Miss Traill’s House to carry out a full conservation treatment, so that the piece could be displayed in their upcoming exhibition ‘Our Oldest Treasures’.
• Surface cleaning, stain reduction and reversal of previous repairs
• Reconstruction of pieces with a conservation grade adhesive
• Areas of loss were infilled and retouched
Testimonial
“Could you please pass on my thanks to the team for the amazing restoration of the King William plate. Its condition was so poor I was thrilled to see it looking so beautiful. My exhibition of "Our oldest Treasures" during the Anzac weekend will have the plate as our feature piece.” – Iris Atkinson, Miss Traill’s House
