Hi JT,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

James M. Shaw & Co. (New York) was primarily an importer/distributor (not a factory) that sold English-made vitrified/ironstone and transfer-printed wares to the U.S. market from the 19th and early 20th centuries. “Vitrified” means the body was fired to a dense, glass-like, non-porous state — durable hotel/restaurant/ship’s china suited to heavy use. Expect thicker, heavy, hardwearing pieces.

Peg Woffington (born Margaret Woffington, c. 1714–1760) was a famous 18th-century Irish actress—one of the best-known stage performers of her time. She was celebrated in London and Dublin for her comic roles, especially breeches parts (roles where women played male characters), and for her sophistication, wit, and beauty.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was common for hotels, pubs, and themed restaurants to name themselves after theatrical celebrities—particularly Georgian and Victorian stage personalities. Many such establishments commissioned custom vitrified china from importers like James M. Shaw & Co; your plate is one of these.

Regrettably, these plates bring very little when sold at auction and are almost never sold as individual ones but rather in sets, where even a large set of about 30 pieces sold for about $60.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

An antique James M. Shaw black and white transferware plate
In the "Old England" pattern, made for the Ye Peg Woffington
probably early 20th Century
marked on the back
9 inches diameter
CONDITION: this appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$3-5 for the individual plate*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia