Description:

A small earthenware advertising plate printed in medium blue with the Standard Willow border and with a central pattern consisting of a collage of urns, jugs, a cup and saucer, and plates.  The dominant figure in the central pattern is an urn with the letter "P" in a center circle.  Printed on the plate is "HUGHES & MANCHESTER, PROVIDENCE."  Nothing is known about this china merchant.  It is presumed that the location was Providence, Rhode Island, but research to date has not confirmed it.
Plates of this size were produced for the merchants by their suppliers.  They would have been used as a means of advertising.  In some cases, salesman's names were printed on the back.