Unusual Antique Plate

I've been given the opportunity to purchase this unusual antique crested plate.

I quite like it, although it's something I don't normally collect.

It appears to have a metal core, and may be enamel, rather than ceramic. Possibly 18th century (?), but I'm no expert !! I only have these pics at the moment.

Has anyone else come across a similar plate in the past ?
Would be very interested to find out more !

Any help will be most appreciated !!!!

 

First of all, that plate holder is a menace and has to go. And when it goes the plate may fall apart.

What suggests a "metal core" to you? That would be very unusual, seems to me.

 

It's a heavy tin glaze, which I think makes this faience. It looks to me like earthenware beneath. I can only conjecture on the date, but 18th C, or even earlier, may be possible. The arms do look hand painted, and identifying them may be key.

 

I'm guessing the color of the clay showing through the chip in the glaze makes op think it is rusty metal.

 

Sorry, I'm mistaken. I agree with the other posters than the dark colour of the clay gave me the impression that the base material was perhaps metal.

 

When/IF you remove that hanger, please be VERY careful......looks like it's stretched on there rather tightly...........! IN FACT, 4th image down, halfway between the two RIGHT sided braces, there IS a visible hairline crack to the naked eye! Secondly, I took your 2nd image down, inverted it and showed with red arrows where there are 6 hairline cracks visible to me! SO, you might want to seek second/third opinions about removing that hanger, IF you want to keep the LOVELY plate in one piece!!!!! There may be other ways to support it.....I'm NO EXPERT in that field!!!! It looks like it has some GREAT age and history to it!!!

SHEESH!!!! I forgot to post the image!!! DUUUUHHH!!!!

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Thank you all VERY much for your comments !
I must admit, I wasn't aware that removal of the hanger 'bands' could result in the plate falling apart. You learn something new every day !
I've never purchased a plate with this type of hanger before, and have got to admit that this potential problem with the hanger has put me RIGHT off ! I don't mind a bit of wear and tear on a plate, but I don't want to have to contend with the risk of having to end up with a pile of shards !
So, I've decided to give this one a miss !

Again - thanks for your advice, which is greatly appreciated.

 

I disagree strongly! Metal core, it has! Obvious chip with base metal showing: enamel, on iron or steel.

And that plate ain't gonna fall apart...ever! That plate, and its 3-limbed hanger, are plenty old...I would leave it just as is. I think you may acquire a treasure! Good luck!

 

French or Italian faience, the chip just shows dirty ceramic underneath. Early 19th century or very late 18th, the completely glazed bases are not found in very early pieces.

 

@15Stiftgasse maybe you could contact the seller and ask them if a magnet sticks to it, if they are claiming it is enameled metal.
Though it sure looks like terracotta with faience glaze to me. Who knows, anything is possible!

 

Perhaps I spoke too soon...the chip sure looks like enamel over rusty ferrous substrate to me. And the cracks had escaped my attention. Once again I yield to the experience an' wisdom of others here.

 

That's very old tin glazed faience on dark terracotta. It's going to be tricky to get that wretched holder off. Could be Italian, Dutch or English. 17th C even.

Letters will be an abbreviated Latin motto.

 

Wonder how they got it on in the first place.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Latin_phrases_(I)

Debora