Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Oval or lozenge-shaped dessert dish, greyish paste, standing on a shallow oval foot rim, fluted everted sides and waved rim; the centre painted with a polychrome landscape comprising a narrow rocky river framed by trees looking towards a rock outcrop, perhaps Maenarthur, in an oval frame comprising a blue line edged with gold and blue sprays, rim with pendant leaves in gilt below blue band and gilt dentil edge.

This dish is part of a thirty-seven piece dessert service commissioned by the Cardiganshire landowner, Thomas Johnes (1748-1816). It cost £63 and was the most expensive of its kind produced at Derby during the late eighteenth century. Each piece was painted with a view of the newly-built house and picturesque landscape at Johnes's estate at Hafod.