Set of Six Royal Doulton Joseph Hancock Bird Plates

Royal Doulton hand-painted bird plates by Joseph Hancock, set of six, circa 1902-1922, each measuring 9" in diameter. This exceptional collection features individually hand-painted game birds and shore birds in natural settings, including two Golden Eye duck plates, one Partridge, one Herring Gull, one Mountain Partridge (likely Ptarmigan), and one Oystercatcher. Each plate is signed by the artist and features exquisite raised gilt trim around the border, showcasing the finest artistic craftsmanship of the Edwardian era.

Joseph Hancock (also known as Fred Hancock or Fred S. Hancock) was one of Royal Doulton's most accomplished artists, active from 1890 to 1945 and specializing in naturalistic hand-painted studies of game birds, shore birds, and fish. Working at the Burslem factory in Stoke-on-Trent, Hancock created these plates as part of pattern E1635, introduced around 1903. Each plate is executed on finest quality bone china with the bird species name painted on the reverse along with the Royal Doulton mark used between 1902-1922. The paintings demonstrate exceptional fine detail, with each bird depicted in its natural habitat using subtle earth tones, yellows, browns, and greens that blend seamlessly with the cream-colored ground. No white shows through the expertly executed painting, demonstrating Hancock's mastery of the medium.

These cabinet plates were produced during Royal Doulton's golden age of decorative art pottery at Burslem, following the 1901 granting of the Royal Warrant by King Edward VII. Under art director John Slater's leadership, the Burslem studio assembled the most talented group of artists in The Potteries, creating lavishly decorated bone china that won international acclaim. Hancock worked alongside other celebrated artists painting flowers, landscapes, portraits, and figurative scenes on beautiful bone china vases and tableware. By 1904, over 1,200 people were employed at Burslem alone, producing the exceptional quality art wares that established Royal Doulton's reputation for craftsmanship and artistry.

The gilt borders on these plates feature intricate raised decoration of bands, dots, rosettes, and intertwined leaf patterns, demonstrating the elaborate hand-finishing that characterized Edwardian decorative ceramics. Each plate was individually hand-painted by Hancock, making them essentially one-of-a-kind artworks rather than mass-produced items. The subjects—Golden Eye ducks, Partridge, Herring Gull, Mountain Partridge, and Oystercatcher—represent both game birds prized by sportsmen and shore birds appreciated for their beauty, reflecting the Edwardian fascination with natural history and field sports.

Sets of Hancock bird plates are increasingly rare to find intact, as most were broken up over the decades or damaged through use and display. Having six plates together from this pattern, all by the same artist and period, represents an exceptional opportunity for collectors. The plates were designed as cabinet or display pieces rather than functional tableware, meant to showcase both the owner's refined taste and Royal Doulton's artistic excellence. They would have originally been displayed in china cabinets or mounted on walls as decorative art.

Perfect for collectors of Royal Doulton fine bone china, Edwardian decorative arts, natural history enthusiasts, and those who appreciate museum-quality examples of early 20th century British ceramic artistry. The set offers versatile display options—arranged together in a cabinet, mounted as a wall grouping, or used as elegant service plates for special occasions. Fully insured shipping across Canada with tracking.