A CAST IRON COALBRROKDALE FRUIT DISH
A rare mid nineteenth century Coalbrookdale fruit dish as exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Although this is a relatively common design which was made by Coalbrookdale over a period of 30 years 1840 - 1870, the fact that this dish is of cast iron and remains in perfect condition makes it rather special.

The earliest plates to be manufactured were made of cast iron, however the tricky details of this design did not lend itself to the manufacture with cast iron using relatively crude techniques. Later pieces were made of a more workable alloy and were then copper plated and patinated as bronze.

The design is by a German architect and designer Karl Friedrich Schinkel who traveled to England to study the techniques of cast iron production before returning to Germany where he designed pieces for the famous Berlin foundry.

The same motif used of the water gods and hippocampi (sea horses) with tridents on this plate is used on the famous Schloßbrucke (Palace Bridge) in Berlin - see photo. Arguably one of the grandest bridges in Berlin and a fantastic historical association with this design of plate.

Diameter 27.5cm

Stamped Coalbrookdale

England, circa 1850