Children's Miniature Pearlware Plate Whipping Top Game C 1820 Children's Nurseryware Games and Pastimes

Isn't this a sweet little Georgian child's plate? You will be pleased to know that it is rather rare. This early 19th-century English pearlware or earthenware child's nursery plate features a central transfer-printed and hand-coloured scene of two boys playing with a Whipping Top surrounded by a moulded floral and leaf border. We love how the word Whipping has been misspelt as Whiping. Don't forget that the men. women and children who were actual working in the potteries making and decorating these children's plates and mugs in the 1820s were uneducated. 

The boys depicted on the plate are playing with a Whipping top, also called a spinning top toy, or Peerie. The toy consists of a cone-shaped wooden body with a metal or wooden tip and a separate cord attached to a small stick or whip. Its a very physical game to play as the wooden top is set into motion and kept spinning by repeatedly striking it with a cord or whip! It was a favourite playground toy in the 19th century.

Our little plate has a Rococo edge with sections of moulded relief. We see polychrome painted leaves and sunflowers. To the centre is the Whiping Top scene in iron red transfer print with bright green polychrome additions. 

Size:  4 1/2 inch (11.5 cm)

Condition: Some rough abrasions to right side outer edge, these are from manufacturing rather than damage. A few missing flakes of paint to the flowers. Three very old minor chips to reverse foot rim. 

Item Id: 16323