RARE Fabulous 18th Century Thomas Whieldon Spongeware Majolica Plate in BLACK

Description

We have a  Fabulous Spongeware Majolica Plate in BLACK, green and yellow with a Basket Weave and Trellis Edge, probably made by Thomas Whieldon circa 1750.  He produced early creamware and was the greatest experimenter of the age.  He apprenticed Josiah Wedgwood and John Greatbatch.  He used mostly browns and his pieces became known as "Tortoiseshell". I've been in business for 40 years and have never seen a black piece.  This plate has seen considerable action; scratches all over the bottom of the plate with the total loss of glaze in one spot.  The very bottom of the plate even has scratches, which begs the question "Why would someone cut something on the bottom of  a plate?.  My theory is that this was used as a cheese plate.  There is a spot of glaze loss on the back, but looking at it with a loupe, I don't think it was ever glazed.  I checked the whole rim for chips and found none, but did find a few tiny glaze frits.  There is also a one inch glaze loss on the edge. The brown spots on the very bottom aren't chips; just frit.  One of the other fascinating thing about this piece is that it is IRRIDESCENT !   I tried to capture it in my photos.  My brown pieces show none of that.  I think Whieldon had a ball doing crazy things and this is one.  Way to go !!!  It measures 9" across and 1" high.  Whoever winds up getting this piece can't look at it too long; it's psychedelic !!!!!!!!!!!