A London delftware commemorative plate

A London delftware commemorative plate, c.1785, painted in green and manganese with a hot air balloon in flight above a building, trees and an ornamental fence painted in blue, the rim with a flower garland border, 19.6cm.

The plate depicts the balloon ascent of the Italian aeronaut Vincenzo Lunardi, whose first British flight took place in 1784. Lunardi executed several flights between 1784 and 1785, including at least one that took off from Southwark, near the delftware potteries.