Decorative collector plate signed 'Robert Hersey' (not authenticated)

This is a round, ceramic or porcelain decorative collector plate featuring a detailed, colorful pastoral scene. The central imagery depicts a traditional English cottage with a thatched roof, brick chimneys, and timber-framing, surrounded by a lush garden, wooden fencing, and various figures including children playing on a swing, adults standing nearby, and several small animals like dogs, birds, and squirrels. The color palette is vibrant, utilizing natural greens, browns, and soft reds for the cottage and landscape, contrasted by the figures in period attire. The rim of the plate is finished with a thin gilded or metallic gold border. In the lower right foreground, a signature is visible, reading 'Robert Hersey'. The item shows no obvious structural damage, chips, or major wear, and the glossy finish appears well-preserved. There are no visible maker's marks or stamps on the front side displayed in the image. The style is consistent with mid-to-late 20th-century decorative commemorative plates produced for the collector market. The attribution in the name rests directly on the legible signature located at the lower right of the illustrated scene.

Based on what I can see in the provided image, this is a decorative collector plate featuring a pastoral scene and bearing a signature reading 'Robert Hersey' in the lower right foreground. The piece appears to be in good overall condition with a well-preserved glossy finish and no obvious structural damage or chips visible on the surface. However, I cannot verify from a photo whether the piece is truly ceramic or porcelain, nor can I inspect the reverse side for potential maker marks, backstamps, or edition numbers. My appraisal value assumes the attribution to Robert Hersey is correct for the sake of this estimate. Decorative collector plates from the mid-to-late 20th century generally experience modest secondary market demand, as the mass-produced commemorative plate market has softened significantly in recent decades. If the attribution is correct and the piece is an authorized issue, the estimated market range is $50 to $100. To confirm authenticity and exact maker attribution, physical inspection by a qualified expert, examination of backstamps, and research into the artist's production history would be necessary. If physical inspection reveals that the item is a later reproduction, a decorative copy, or simply made 'in the style of' the named artist rather than an authorized edition, the value would likely drop to the $15 to $30 range, reflecting strictly decorative value without collector significance.