Dishware Appraisal

Small White Ceramic/Porcelain Dish with Gold and Black Checkered Design

This item is a small, shallow decorative dish or trinket tray, likely made of ceramic or porcelain given its smooth, glossy white finish. It has an irregular, somewhat organic or square-with-rounded-corners shape rather than a perfectly circular or rectangular form. The dish features a central square design with a gold and black checkered pattern. The gold portions appear metallic and reflective, suggesting a metallic overlay or luster glaze, while the black squares are matte or less reflective, creating a strong contrast. A raised border defines the central checkered motif, indicating a deliberate design element. The overall color scheme is stark white with the prominent gold and black accent. In terms of condition, there are some visible signs of wear and surface discoloration, particularly a light brownish-yellow stain visible on the white portion of the dish near the bottom right of the central design. This suggests either accumulated dirt, a residue from an item previously held in the dish, or a superficial blemish. There are no immediately apparent chips, cracks, or significant abrasions from the single provided image, although the view is limited to the interior of the dish. The craftsmanship appears to be of good quality, with a clean application of the checkered pattern, suggesting it was either hand-decorated with precision or machine-printed with a high degree of fidelity. The age and precise manufacturing details are not discernible without maker's marks or further context, but its style suggests it could be mid-20th century to contemporary.