Portmeirion Malachite 10 Inch Rope Edged Plate, MAL38 SM
Portmeirion Pottery

A rare vintage Portmeirion Malachite 10-inch rope-edged dinner plate with 22-carat gold decoration - one of Susan Williams-Ellis's most sumptuous and sought-after designs from 1959.

This elegant dinner plate showcases the full opulence of the Malachite pattern - swirling bands of rich green mimicking the semi-precious gemstone, enriched with luxurious 22-carat gold lustre. The distinctive rope-twist edge adds an extra dimension of refinement to this already spectacular design.

Malachite represents Susan Williams-Ellis at the height of her creative powers, combining ambitious artistic vision with exceptional craftsmanship. The labour-intensive production process and limited run make genuine Malachite pieces exceptionally rare on the market today.

Design Details

The hand-painted Malachite pattern was inspired by specimens Susan studied at London's Natural History Museum in 1959. Fascinated by the natural swirling patterns and banding found in the semi-precious stone, she translated these organic forms into one of British pottery's most ambitious decorative designs.

The rope-edged shape adds sculptural elegance to the plate, with the twisted rope detail beautifully framing the flowing malachite pattern. This decorative edge was reserved for special pieces in the range and required additional production steps.

Each Malachite piece was created through an extraordinarily complex process: hand-painted patterns were produced as sheet transfers and carefully applied across the entire surface. Heavy gilding with 22-carat gold lustre was then added by hand where the intricate transfers proved difficult to apply satisfactorily, creating the rich golden highlights you see throughout the pattern.

About This Piece

Backstamp: Authentic Malachite backstamp confirming this as a genuine piece from the original production period (1960-early 1960's).

Certificate: Supplied with a signed certificate of authenticity by Stephen McKay, renowned Portmeirion expert and author.

Condition: Excellent overall vintage condition for a piece of this age and rarity. The Malachite pattern transfers are vibrant and complete with no crazing, chips, or cracks. Some light wear to the 22-carat gilding is present (primarily along the rope-edged rim), which is entirely typical of vintage Malachite pieces and does not detract from the visual impact or collectability of the plate. Please see photographs for details.

Note: Some gilding wear is expected on Malachite due to the delicate nature of gold lustre and the fact these pieces are now over 60 years old. Many collectors consider this gentle ageing as adding character and authenticity to vintage pieces.

Size: 10 inches (25.5 cm) diameter - the classic dinner plate size, perfect for display or special occasions.

Perfect For

• Serious Portmeirion collectors seeking rare vintage designs
• Display in a china cabinet or on plate stands
• Special occasion dining (though meant primarily for display)
• Gift for the Malachite collector
• Anyone who appreciates Susan Williams-Ellis's most opulent design work
• Investment in collectable British pottery

Investment & Collectability

Malachite is widely considered one of THE pieces serious Portmeirion collectors seek. Its rarity, combined with the stunning visual impact and connection to Susan Williams-Ellis's peak creative period, ensures Malachite remains one of the most desirable of all Portmeirion ranges.

As time passes and fewer pieces remain available, Malachite continues to appreciate in both value and desirability among collectors worldwide.

A museum-quality example of Susan Williams-Ellis's most sumptuous design - rare, elegant, and investment-grade.

Malachite

This sumptuous and exotic Malachite range was designed by Susan Williams-Ellis in 1959 after she had spent time studying the semi-precious mineral in the Natural History Museum in London. She also applied her opulent design to carpets and textiles that were produced and used in her father's hotel in Portmeirion. Those same items along with her complete range of amazing Malachite pottery, including the extraordinary tureen and goblets were officially launched in her Pont Street Portmeirion shop, London on 10th May 1960. Susan's hand painted Malachite pattern was produced as sheet transfers and applied over the whole of the items. They were then heavily gilded with gold lustre where the transfers were tricky to apply satisfactorily. This range was incredibly labour intensive, very expensive to produce and meant for cabinet displays rather than usable items and was not produced for very long, making it one of THE pieces a collector searches for!