Set of four glazed earthenware soup plates by Copeland, made in England circa 1877. The flat rim is printed with five reserves of flowers in blue on a cream background. The flowers depicted include chrysanthemums, peonies and prunus, all in the Japanese taste popular during the Aesthetic Movement period. Blue details hand painted over the glaze throughout.

Each measures about 10 inches diameter. Impressed and painted marks on the reverse, with date stamp indicating manufacture around October 1877.

Overall condition is good, with no chips or cracks. One plate shows some losses to the handpainted details along the vertical sides of the bowl, especially on the group of prunus branches. Some crazing seen throughout all of the plates. One has a small dent in the body at the rim of the plate, but this is under the glaze and not damage. Some utensil marks at the bottom of each bowl.