Plate, 10.25 inches diameter. Black transfer. Printed maker's mark for James Beech. Several cartouche shapes are seen in this pattern: ribbons, semi-circles, full circles, and a rectangle. There are crossed ribbons, curved ribbons, and both geometric- and flower-filled round cartouches. There is a vase in the rectangular cartouche as well as small stylized flowers. Overlaid on the cartouches are large floral blossoms. The entire pattern is asymmetrical and flows into the border area on one side. The partial border is a sort of remnant from the main pattern.

James Beech was born in 1822 in Tunstall, the son of Joseph Beech, a warehouseman, and Mary Cumberlidge. James Beech was a partner in Beech, Hancock & Co., which operated Swan Bank Pottery in Burslem from 1851 to 1855. The partnership, renamed Beech & Hancock, reopened in about 1857 in Tunstall and operated there until 1876, the last six years at another works named the Swan Bank Pottery. James Beech became the sole proprietor of the business in 1877 and operated the Swan Bank Works under his own name from 1877 until he died in early 1887. The business continued until 1889 when it was taken over by Boulton, Machin & Tennant.