Featured Seller is calling this 18th century WOrcester bird dish, but I'm not seeing any that are similar.

Does the "M" mark have any significance or is that a signature?

 

DOes the "M" on the bottom have any significance or is it more likely a signature?

 

I'm not seeing Worcester in that. Not convinced it's British.

 

think that's a "W"; here's a plate in same design

Worcester ‘fancy birds’ plate, gilt garlands, c. 1770 | Moorabool Antiques Galleries

edit: found pieces with that same shape called a dessert dish and noted as Dr Wall First Period Worcester

 

Hmmmm.... they're implying it's the 1755 to 70 mark, then. It's not like any of the Godden examples, I'll see if I can find the Sandon book.

 

Here is another in the same pattern but can't tell you if it's real or not. Old Worcester has been faked.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1126421_531-early-worcester-scalloped-dish

 

That gilding worries me sightly.

 

Henry Sandon in his Worcester Porcelain Illustrated Guide does mention the script W on an exotic/fabulous birds dish.

 

In Worcester Blue and White Porcelain 1751-1790, by Branyan, French and Sandon (John) they mention the script W several times on pieces but don't show an example. (It seems John Sandon autographed my book though I got it second hand)

 

There's two W examples in Godden, but neither are like what I can see of this mark.

 

This is online from the book Chats on English China, by Arthur Hayden

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/57124/57124-h/57124-h.htm#Page_70



The first two letters, , in script, were used when the factory was under the direction of Dr. Wall, who died in 1776. The capital W was marked in blue on early printed china. The crescent in outline was one of the earliest marks, while the second crescent filled in with blue, under the glaze, occurs on blue-printed china, which was invented about 1755.

 

And from Godden's Illustrated Encyclopedia an ad showing a few examples of faked wares.

 

The kidney shape is a Worcester shape and the pattern is certainly a Worcester pattern https://www.thefancyfox.co.uk/en-GB...ern-lobed-dish-c-1775/prod_10190#.YIrlw2ZKi7M

Handling might be the only way to be sure.

 

In Worcester Porcelain 1751-1790, The Zorensky Collection, Simon Spero and John Sandon write that the Blue Bordered Wares were introduced c1780.