Plate, 7.25 inches diameter. Black transfer. Printed and impressed maker's marks for J. & M. P. Bell & Co. of Glasgow, Scotland. This pattern features a central image composed of two cartouches framed by ivy, cattails, and grasses. The rectangular cartouche features a scene of a castle in the distance with a lake in the foreground. The circular cartouche features an elaborate mixture of stylized floral and geometric patterns with two birds. Four motifs frame the central image and consist of a fan, exotic bird, group of three rectangular cartouches on a bed of leaves, and a stylized crescent-shaped butterfly with geometric pattern in-fill.

Established in late 1840 or 1841, at the corner of Stafford St. and Pulteney St., Glasgow, by brothers John and Matthew Perston Bell. The initial partnership traded as J.& M. P. Bell, earthenware manufacturers. Quite quickly afterwards this became J.& M. P. Bell & Co. The reason for the change was the acquisition of a third partner, Robert Clough (sometimes spelt Cleugh). Matthew died in 1870 and his brother John, in 1880.
John Murdoch, a manager of the firm, continued trading as J. & M. P. Bell Co. Ltd. from 7 February 1881. The limited company was very successful. It was a time of great innovation and probably the most prolific period in the pottery’s history. Designs were changed, production soared and the export trade certainly was well established both with the Far East and other areas nearer home. The last piece was probably made around 1912 before the site was taken over by Joseph Turner, a previous Secretary of the company, who took over part of the works for the resale of imported Staffordshire & Czech wares.