Antique Victorian W. T. Avery Birmingham Ceramic Scale Plate

An attractive antique ceramic scale plate made for W. & T. Avery of Birmingham, one of Britain's best-known manufacturers of weighing machines. The circular white ceramic plate is transfer printed to the centre with decorative ribbon banners reading: “W. & T. Avery & Birmingham.”

The design is surrounded by a strong dark geometric border of interlaced motifs, giving the piece a particularly decorative appearance.

These ceramic plates were originally fitted to shopkeeper's, grocer's or counter weighing scales, rather than being intended as domestic tableware. Avery produced a wide range of commercial weighing equipment during the 19th century, and surviving scales are recorded with porcelain plates carrying the firm's name.