Serving Platter
Production date
Pre 1790
Country
Australia
State/Province
Queensland
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Object detail
Description
Royal pattern small serving platter, oval-shaped creamware, incomplete. Extensive scratches/marks from historic use.
Classification
DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT Food & Drink Consumption Crockery dish
ARCHAEOLOGY Maritime Archaeology
ARCHAEOLOGY Maritime Archaeology
Maker
Production date
Pre 1790
Production place
Measurements
H 30 x W 300 x D 240 mm
Media/Materials description
Ceramic
Signature/Marks
"W" or "M"
History and use
This serving platter was recovered from HMS Pandora, a naval vessel sent from England in 1790 in pursuit of the HMS Bounty and its mutineers. Following navigation in the South Pacific, Pandora wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef in 1791 on its return voyage.
The Pandora shipwreck was discovered in 1977, and Queensland Museum conducted archaeological expeditions between 1983 and 1999 recovering many artefacts.
The platter belonged to a crockery service used by the officers of the Pandora, and marks on the surface indicate the dish had been used. Royal pattern creamware, such as this, was in common use in middle class dining rooms of 18th century Britain.
The plate has either a “W” or “M” scratched into the underside of its base, and two possible explanations have been suggested for this. If it is an “M” it could indicate that it was the property of midshipman Richard Matson. However, another possibility is that it is a W, which was used to identify dinner services used in the wardroom – the room used by commissioned officers for dining or relaxing. This is a more likely theory as other items of crockery have been recovered with the letter “C”, possibly identifying items for use in the Captain’s Cabin.
The Pandora shipwreck was discovered in 1977, and Queensland Museum conducted archaeological expeditions between 1983 and 1999 recovering many artefacts.
The platter belonged to a crockery service used by the officers of the Pandora, and marks on the surface indicate the dish had been used. Royal pattern creamware, such as this, was in common use in middle class dining rooms of 18th century Britain.
The plate has either a “W” or “M” scratched into the underside of its base, and two possible explanations have been suggested for this. If it is an “M” it could indicate that it was the property of midshipman Richard Matson. However, another possibility is that it is a W, which was used to identify dinner services used in the wardroom – the room used by commissioned officers for dining or relaxing. This is a more likely theory as other items of crockery have been recovered with the letter “C”, possibly identifying items for use in the Captain’s Cabin.
Registration number
MA7843
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