The survival of children's ceramics of any period is something of a miracle.  This, c...

The survival of children's ceramics of any period is something of a miracle.  This, coupled to the additional rarity of eighteenth century creamware -- to say nothing of the impressed Wedgwood mark -- gives real distinction to these three soup plates and an additional platter listed separately. (See final photo.)  

We find children's ceramics fascinating as they provide one of the great indicators of the wealth and prosperity of any period. This toy creamware soup plate with its vigorous edge pattern of deep scallop and pleat detail is no exception.  Wedgwood's adult counterpart could be found on the tables of many eighteenth century households reflecting the new prosperity extending down into the classes of merchants, tradesmen and other professionals. 

In English ceramics, this is the original shell edge pattern, the design which spawned the numerous tamer shell edge details found on ceramics throughout the nineteenth century and even into the twentieth.  None of the later versions compare with the lavish scallops and pleats an the eighteenth century original.

According to Robin Reilly and George Savage, The Dictionary of Wedgwood, Wedgwood's use of...

According to Robin Reilly and George Savage, The Dictionary of Wedgwood, Wedgwood's use of the "Shell Edge" moulded border starts in 1770.  However, the treatment, which is based on the edge detail of the pecten shell is a product of French Rococo design.  English potters were likely looking toward the French porcelains which originated with Vincennes, c. 1750.