Cottage Garden - Aynsly

Name: Aynsly " Cottage Garden"
 
Type: Bone China Tray
 
Year: Circa 1985–1990
 
Set: No
 
Mark: Aynsly - Blue crown mark with “AYNSLEY Made in England – Fine English Bone China – Cottage Garden” and “Portrayal of the Flora of an English Cottage Garden”
 
History: This rectangular bone china tray by Aynsley features the beloved “Cottage Garden” pattern—a vibrant floral and butterfly motif popular from the late 20th century. The mark on the base includes the Aynsley crown logo with “Est. 1775,” which was typically used from the 1980s onward. The fine transfer print in full color is a hallmark of Aynsley’s modern bone china wares during this period, aimed at collectors and giftware markets.
 
 
The tray is part of a broader decorative and serveware line featuring this design, including mugs, trinket boxes, and vases. The quality of the bone china, along with the bright enamel-like glazes and floral precision, points to factory-made but well-finished porcelain. This tray, due to its size and shape, would likely have been intended for sweets, biscuits, or as a pen tray or dresser piece.
 
 
While not particularly old, Aynsley items—especially in popular patterns like Cottage Garden—remain desirable among collectors due to their charming English country aesthetic and the company’s closure in the early 21st century, making these designs finite in production.
 
 
This tray is a fine example of late 20th-century decorative bone china and represents the continuity of English floral design in porcelain. Its collectible value is modest but steady, particularly in well-preserved condition like this one.
 
Flaws: None