Royal Doulton 'Clarendon' Fine Bone China Dinner Plate with Gold Filigree
Dinnerware (Ceramic/Fine Bone China) · Royal Doulton, a prestigious British ceramics manufacturer founded in 1815 in Lambeth, London, later moving to Stoke-on-Trent. It holds Royal Warrants and is world-renowned for high-quality tablewares and collectibles.
Pattern: Clarendon (Pattern Code: H4993). Introduced in 1968 and produced until 1994. It is one of the most recognized Mid-Century traditional patterns by the company.
Type
Dinnerware (Ceramic/Fine Bone China)
Maker
Royal Doulton, a prestigious British ceramics manufacturer founded in 1815 in Lambeth, London, later moving to Stoke-on-Trent. It holds Royal Warrants and is world-renowned for high-quality tablewares and collectibles.
Material
English Fine Bone China. Note: This item is ceramic, not silver. The decorative border is made of 22-karat gold gilding applied over the glaze.
Dimensions
Standard dinner plate size is approximately 10.75 inches (27 cm) in diameter. Weight is approximately 600-750 grams, typical for fine bone china.
Description
A classic example of Royal Doulton's formal dining range, the Clarendon plate features a brilliant white bone china body that provides a stark contrast to the rich, golden lace-like border. It epitomizes the elegance of late 20th-century British formal table settings.
Key Features
Rich 22k gold filigree border; translucent bone china body; hallmark Doulton backstamp; H4993 pattern identification code.
Material & Composition
English Fine Bone China. Note: This item is ceramic, not silver. The decorative border is made of 22-karat gold gilding applied over the glaze.
Finish & Decoration
Translucent white porcelain finish with an intricate gold filigree/scrollwork border and a thin gold inner pinstripe. The aesthetic is Neoclassical-inspired and traditional.
Hallmarks & Stamps
The backstamp includes the Royal Doulton Lion and Crown logo, 'Made in England', 'Royal Doulton England', 'English Fine Bone China', pattern name 'CLARENDON', pattern number 'H 4993', and legal copyright 'Doulton & Co Limited'.
Construction Details
Molded and kiln-fired fine bone china. The gilding is applied as a liquid gold preparation (frequently through silk-screening or transfer) and fired a second time at a lower temperature to fuse the metal to the glaze.
Functional Features
Rimmed design to contain food; high thermal shock resistance common to bone china; non-porous glazed surface.
Handle & Grip Details
None (standard circular plate form).
Craftsmanship Details
High quality industrial production; the gilding is uniform and the glaze is free of 'pitting' or 'crazing' (fine cracks), which are hallmarks of Doulton's quality control standards.
Authentication Indicators
The presence of the authentic Royal Doulton lion-and-crown backstamp which is under-glaze or high-fired. The weight and translucency are consistent with genuine English bone china.
Origin & Manufacturing
Made in England, specifically in the Potteries of Stoke-on-Trent, the historic center of British ceramic manufacturing.
Era & Period
Mid-Century / Late 20th Century (1960s-1990s). The design reflects a mid-20th-century return to formal, 'safe' traditionalism in dining.
Age Estimate
Circa 1968-1994. Based on the copyright mark and the H 4993 pattern code, this specific piece likely dates to the 1970s or 1980s.
Cultural Significance
Represents the height of middle-class aspirational dining in the postwar era, where a full set of 'Doulton' was considered a primary household investment and heirloom.
Condition Notes
Very Good to Excellent. The white center appears clean. Minor shelf wear on the foot ring may be present. The gold gilding shows light handling but no significant 'brassing' or rubbing-off.
Value Estimate
Current market value for a single dinner plate in this pattern is approximately $20 to $45 USD on the secondary market (e.g., Replacements, Ltd. or eBay).
Care & Maintenance
Hand wash only. Do not use in a microwave due to the metallic gold content, which will spark and damage the kiln-fired gilding. Store with felt or paper separators to prevent the foot of one plate from scratching the gold of the one beneath it.
Similar Pieces
Royal Doulton 'Barlyn', Wedgewood 'Ulander Gold', or Minton 'Bellemeade'. These also feature heavy gold borders on white porcelain backgrounds.
Interesting Facts
The Clarendon pattern was part of the 'Romance' or higher-end dinnerware collections intended for formal wedding registries in the 1970s. Royal Doulton bone china contains actual bone ash, which gives it its signature strength and whiteness.