19th-Century Coimbra Plate with Bird Motif

This small octagonal dish features a hand-painted floral motif with a bird in the center, surrounded by a decorative border of repeated floral patterns. The design and style suggest that it may come from a folk pottery tradition, possibly reflecting Portuguese, French, or English ceramics known for their rustic and charming decoration.

Key Features:

Octagonal Shape:

The octagonal form is less common than round or oval plates, often found in earlier 19th to 20th-century European ceramics. Shapes like these were sometimes used to make serving trays or small dishes for bread, butter, or decorative purposes.

Bird and Floral Motif:

The central bird motif surrounded by flowers is reminiscent of country or folk art. This kind of decoration was popular in Majolica ceramics and faience pottery, often produced in regions like Portugal (Caldas da Rainha) or France.

Border Design:

The repetitive floral border may have been transfer-printed or hand-painted, a method used widely in English ceramics by companies like Staffordshire. If Portuguese, it could belong to Caldas pottery traditions, which feature folk-inspired themes.