Plate (Child's or alphabet plate)

Description

The Barkers & Kent factory, in Staffordshire, England, was one of many in the region that supplied comparatively inexpensive ceramics for children. The example shown here not only helped teach upper- and lower-case letters of the alphabet but also taught the young how to read time. The ring of numerals up to twenty-four invited discussions of how many hours make up a day. This press-molded white earthenware plate displays a dark blue-green transfer printed pattern composed of concentric rings of ornament. The central Roman-numeral clockface is set to 6:00 with “DINNER” near the XII and “TO BED” near the VI. Next further out is a ring of Arabic numbers, 1 to 24, outside of which is a ring of lower-case letters of the English alphabet. Outermost is another ring, this time with the alphabet in upper case. On the underside, a transfer-printed mark features a central globe with the pattern name “SCHOOL” and flanking wings. Above is inscribed “TRADE MARK” and below “B & K / LTD.” For a relief-decorated glass clock face plate that features not only a clock dial and the alphabet but the months of the year and days of the week, see 2023.0014.0010.002.