Royal Albert | Mayflower | Bone China Cake Plate | England, c.1970s

The value of a well-made serving plate lies not only in its pattern, but in the occasions it was made to hold — and this one was made for occasions worth keeping.

Royal Albert built its reputation on finely made bone china and an extensive library of floral patterns, many of them drawn from botanical sources and rendered with a lightness of touch suited to the material. The Mayflower pattern forms part of the Provincial Flowers series produced during the 1970s, a period in which the factory continued its long-standing tradition of naturalistic floral decoration. The mayflower — Epigaea repens — is depicted here in soft sprays of pink and lavender blossoms set against deep green foliage, arranged with a painterly looseness across the white ground.

The plate is of the classic tab-handled cake plate form, with a gently scalloped rim finished in a fine gilt line. The two side handles are shaped as open scrolls and picked out in gilt, sitting slightly proud of the plate body. The surface carries multiple floral sprays in varying sizes, distributed across both the well and rim, creating a balanced and visually active composition. The gilding remains consistent and bright, framing the decoration without overpowering it.

There are no chips, cracks, or crazing. The gilding is intact and well-preserved. Minor surface marks are present to the central well, consistent with careful use, and do not detract from the overall appearance. The piece remains in excellent condition.

Key Details

• Maker: Royal Albert
• Pattern: Mayflower
• Series: Provincial Flowers
• Form: Tab-handled cake plate
• Material: Bone china
• Origin: England
• Period: c.1970s
• Length (handle to handle): 26 cm
• Diameter: 23 cm
• Height: 2.3 cm
• Weight: 408 g
• Condition: Excellent — minor surface marks; no chips, cracks or crazing; gilding intact

Collector Appeal

Royal Albert’s floral wares from the mid-to-late twentieth century remain widely collected for their combination of usability and decorative appeal. Cake plates in particular occupy a practical niche within the range, suitable both for serving and display. The Provincial Flowers series offers a slightly less common alternative to the better-known Old Country Roses pattern, appealing to collectors seeking variation within the Royal Albert canon while retaining the same standard of English bone china production.

Chosen for the table before the season has properly arrived — which is often exactly the right instinct.