Three pieces of Asian (style) Pottery

The only reason to group these together is that they were found together at an estate/auction sale. I did some research on them, but would like to know more...
(1) Darley and Butler commemorative plate (late 19th century?)
Darley and Butler were pioneers of organizing tea production in Ceylon/Sri Lanka in the 19th century. This looks like a commemorative or promotional plate... but cannot find anything else about it. The auction house listed it is as "from 1840s" but this is way too early, since they just started business in 1848

Darley and Butler 01 by Misha Petrovic posted Feb 8, 2021 at 6:36 PM

Darley and Butler 02 by Misha Petrovic posted Feb 8, 2021 at 6:36 PM

(2) TI & J Emberton plate
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1869-1882, Earthenware manufacturers at the Highgate Pottery, Brownhills, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. They produced the usual kind of ware and also specialised in pottery for the Indian and Far Eastern markets. So was this produced in England then exported to China or Japan? And what is the motif?

Emberton 02 by Misha Petrovic posted Feb 8, 2021 at 6:36 PM

Emberton 01 by Misha Petrovic posted Feb 8, 2021 at 6:36 PM

(3) Macao D&S pitcher
this was listed as late 19th century also... but my research shows that Macao/Macau comes up as pottery producer (ok, rather trans-shipper) only in the 1960s/70s. Then again, those mid-20th century pieces all have specific Chinese-style marks, this mark on the bottom looks very European-style... is it possible that it was made much earlier?

Macao D&S 01 by Misha Petrovic posted Feb 8, 2021 at 6:37 PM

Macao D&S 02 by Misha Petrovic posted Feb 8, 2021 at 6:37 PM

Macao D&S 03 by Misha Petrovic posted Feb 8, 2021 at 6:37 PM

Macao D&S 04 by Misha Petrovic posted Feb 8, 2021 at 6:37 PM

 

I'd call the first plate Aesthetic Movement and Japonism, and the second 2 items Chinoiserie.

 

All the pieces are English ironstone/pottery and macao is a pattern name. The aesthetic movement brown plate could not be 1840's as the style didn't exist till 1870's at the earliest and ran in various forms until about 1890 or so, 1880 being the peak of the fashion.

 

Thanks, that helps. While the aesthetic movement definitely predates 1870s in general, I think you're spot on with dating this as likely 1880-90. I think it's interesting that they tried to include some South Asian themes as well as the sailing ship representing the shipping company itself.
As for the D&S piece, thepotteries.org has three shops using that mark, ranging from the 1830s to 1860s, so that fits as well.
Now if I could just figure out that Chinese character-like motif on the Emberton plate... Highly stylized, and perhaps not a character at all, but let's see if someone can chime in...

 

In my opinion, the decorative art aesthetic movement in the UK is as I stated, post 1870's and regarding the Japonisme plate, that was made for mainly the British and possibly colonial (Canada, Australia) market, definitely not the Asian market. The blue plate, however, would have had no appeal to the sensibility of the typical Victorian British household so that would have be an export piece, for sure. I don't think it would have any appeal to the Asian market as the design is pretty weird with that oddly drawn character - all I can imagine is that it was made in limited quantities possibly for a British company trading in the east, maybe for use in the staff canteen.
More than likely the Chinese character would have been drawn properly when the design was ordered but the British workmen producing the pieces had no idea what it was and interpreted it as best they could, not knowing the dimensions or even which way was up. A pretty rare plate IMHO. There can't be too many of these floating around, there was probably just one service made. No-one would order this TWICE!

 

Haha, hear ya on the oddly drawn character, my Chinese friends could not guess what that could be, either... For the aesthetic movement, I would consider The Grammar of Ornament (1856) to be an already mature statement, but regarding the Far East motifs, that must have come in way later, in the 1870s-90s...
My wife does not like the small plates, so they will likely have to go, the pitcher I will keep for now.