DATED 1893, PRINTED GREEN CROWNED MARK, IRON-RED PATTERN NO. V3394, OVERPRINTED GILT CHICAGO EXHIBITION MARK, MOST PROBABLY DESIGNED BY T.J. BOTT

The art critics of the day heralded the perfection of the work presented by Coalport at the Chicago World Fair. A local reviewer commented, 'The Company are deserving of congratulation on the magnificent glaze that has been obtained on the various objects, which for delicacy and softness, almost approaches the old Sèvres soft pace [sic] effect. The agate work is grand also. It really represents all the precious stones which are included in the Chalcedony groups, Moss agates, Cornelian, etc. This is absolutely a novel form of decoration, and the effect obtained on the surface of the stones is really astonishing, it appearing identical with the natural object. Most of the display was designed by Mr. T.J. Bott...' See Michael Messenger, Coalport 1795 - 1926, Suffolk, 1988, p. 334 for a full discussion of this technique and the overwhelming success of Coalport at this seminal exposition.