Winter Plate Appraisal

B.C. Koekkoek 'Winter Landscape with Skaters' Decorative Plate

This item is a circular decorative plate featuring a vibrant winter landscape scene with skaters, rendered in a detailed and colorful print. The plate appears to be made of ceramic or porcelain, typical for decorative plates, and likely has a smooth, glazed finish. The dominant colors in the scene are various shades of green and white for the ice and snow, brown and grey for the bare winter trees, and muted blues and greys for the cloudy sky. Reddish-brown and yellow tones highlight a few distant houses or buildings. The central focus of the artwork is a frozen body of water, possibly a canal or river, where several individuals are ice skating. Some figures are actively skating, while others appear to be pushing a sled or cart with passengers. The background features a picturesque village scene with houses and a church steeple, all nestled amongst snow-dusted trees. A large, gnarled tree with intricate bare branches dominates the right side of the composition, adding depth and a sense of scale. The artistry style suggests a traditional European landscape painting, specifically reminiscent of Dutch Golden Age winter scenes, attributing its motif to B.C. Koekkoek, a renowned 19th-century Dutch Romantic painter. Given the context 'Poole England', it is highly probable this plate was manufactured by Poole Pottery or a similar English ceramic company, reproducing the famous artwork. Observable condition suggests good preservation, with no apparent chips, cracks, or significant wear visible from the provided image. The edges of the plate appear clean, and the colors remain vivid, indicating careful handling and display. Its purpose is primarily decorative, often collected or displayed as wall art or on shelves. The quality of the reproduction seems high, capturing the detail and atmosphere of the original painting.