Toy plate

John Ridgway, a Staffordshire ceramic manufacturer, was potter to Queen Victoria. He displayed this service, along with other wares, at the Great Exhibition. He won a prize medal for his exhibit. Ridgway may have presented the service to Queen Victoria when she visited his display. This minature china plate is decorated with a transfer view of Windsor Castle, the principal royal residence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. In the foreground, there is a pony trap with male and female occupants and behind to the left a large man in a red coat, out-of-scale with the other figures. The transfer print has been part-coloured by hand. The plate forms part of a 43 piece doll's tea and dinner service.