Set of Four Masons Ironstone "Ladies With Cranes" Dinner Plates

This lovely set of four ironstone pottery dinner plates was made by the Mason's factory at Lane Delph, Staffordshire, England and is decorated in the blue and white Chinese ladies with cranes which is a rare pattern, fully stamped and dating to the earliest period of Mason's Ironstone production, circa 1815.

The design is an exceptionally rare Mason's Ironstone blue and white chinoiserie pattern known as Ladies with Cranes, featuring two ladies (Long Elizas) in a garden setting with two cranes, one on the ground and one flying overhead, surrounded by a rich border pattern of symbols and flowers with gilt detailing. This set is in very good antique condition with gilt and glaze in good antique condition, with one plate having an antique hairline crack to the rim as pictured.

The pattern is illustrated on Page 76 of a Guide to Mason's Patent Ironstone Patterns, circa 1813-1848, produced by The Mason's Collectors Club. The base has the single line impressed factory mark; MASON'S PATENT IRONSTONE CHINA, which is recorded as being one of the earliest impressed marks indicating a date of circa 1813-1820, making this set among the earliest pieces of Mason's, as their Ironstone was only produced from 1813, during the George III period.