Striving for the ultimate in late eighteenth century luxury, some unknown potter makes a valiant attempt at emulating tortoiseshell in the glaze of this earthenware dinner plate.  In this example, the glaze is marked by brilliant bursts of saffron with secondary touches of green in contrast to the rich, mottled chocolate brown covering most of the plate.  A gallery of woven and diamond pattern press molded detail decorates the flange of the plate while the elaborate scalloped profile recalls popular rococo silver silhouettes of the day.   

We would really like to call this "Whieldon" -- as it has been generically referred to in our business for years.  However the "Whieldon" notation correctly refers to the 1754 partnership of Josiah Wedgwood and Thomas Whieldon.  Today, recognizing there were many more potters taking advantage of the fashion for this treatment on earthenware, modern sources refer to these wares generically as "tortoiseshell."