A rare, monumentally large and impressive Maw & Co charger
circa 1880
centrally painted with a lion's mask below a flaming urn, surrounded by seeded orange fruit and a wave exterior border,
impressed 'MAW & CO / BROSELEY', 92cm diameter (stapled repair)

Notes: It is likely that this charger was produced for one of the many exhibitions in which Maw & Co participated in during the late 19th century. For comparison, the Ironbridge Gorge Museum owns one other large charger, which was created for the Exposition Universelle of 1889 as a showcase of the various glazes and paints. A second charger, at a slightly smaller 71cm diameter, was exhibited in the earlier 1851 Great Exhibition and remains in private hands today. By family repute, this charger, and another (whereabouts currently unknown) were rescued by workers from the Maw & Co factory upon its closure. Given the scarcity of works of this size by Maw & Co, it is, therefore, possible that the charger in this lot was one of those rescued. The further detail on this lot was provided by the kind generosity of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Collection Trust.