Serving plate, 10.5 x 9.5 inches. Brown transfer. Printed maker's mark for J. H. Davis. The "Sylvan" pattern features groupings of cartouches interspersed with floral motifs. The first cartouche group consists of a rectangular cartouche with an image of a sailboat on water with a rocky, tree-lined shore in the foreground and mountains in the background and a circular cartouche with an image of cattails in water with a clump of grass and birds in flight in the background. The second cartouche group consists of an octagonal cartouche with an image of two men in a sailboat on water with two towers emerging from the fog in the background and a circular cartouche with an image of a sitting artist painting en plein air. Both cartouche groups are superimposed over wildflowers. Sprigs of additional wildflowers appear between the cartouche groups.

The Trent Pottery, situated by the side of the North Staffordshire Canal at Eastwood, was established in 1867 by Messrs. Livesley & Davis. On the retirement of Mr. Livesley the style was changed to J. H. & J. Davis brothers. In 1875 Mr. J. Davis retired and it was carried on by Mr. J. H. Davis alone. Until latterly the productions were confined to white granite-ware for the United States, but Mr. Davis introduced the manufacture of dinner, toilet, and tea services and other articles both for the home and foreign markets. He was also an extensive maker of sanitary wares, lavatories, plug-basins, hoppers, etc.