This early, c.1830's plate from William Ridgway in the Italian series depicts the Temple of the Sybil (Temple of Vesta) at Tivoli, Rome, Italy . This temple is one of the earliest surviving examples of concrete construction and considered to be one of the most fascinating of the many monuments of the period. It was built in the 1st century BC. The plate is bordered with delicate roses and flowers amongst scrolls and urns. The color is unusual, a pale pinkish-lavender. This plate measures just over 9" Marked on back in an ornate scrolled cartouche: Sybil's Temple Tivoli WR ITALIAN William Ridgway operated the Bell Works in Shelton and the Church Works in nearby Hanley from 1830-54. Ridgway were the potters to Queen Victoria. The WR marking on the plate is indicative that this was made at the Bell Works, which since 1956 has been The Potteries Musuem at Bethesda Street and houses the largest and most important collection of North Staffordshire pottery in the world.