This link shows some history of Pitcairn Limited Porcelain Royale, from Tunstall England.

http://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/801.htm#USA

The pieces you bought are lovely, and you can't beat that price! If you google Porcelain Royale Pitcairn, Tunstall England, you can find many other pretty pieces as well.

Thank you, amicus, that is very interesting. I'm afraid to look at other pieces...may have to start collecvting..lol.

Lovely. You can never have too many blue and white pieces ;-)

Those bowls are really pretty. I would've bought them as well.

I sent your pictures to a friend who is an expert in fine china. She said she will consult her mark book that will allow her to "date that Tunstall mark." I'll let you know as soon as I hear back.

My friend just wrote back. Here is her response:

" Maker is Pitcairns, Ltd. Made in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent England. Pattern name is Laurel. Manufactured between 1895-1901. Not much value, but very pretty!"

I agree about the very pretty part!

Thank you, jojoco and thank you to your friend. How cool to find out about the manufacturing dates. I may just use them for display purposes instead of hiding them away in a cupboard.

As we ’change it up’ get tired of it and update, it’s so very nice to see that some things actually last. and yes, those are very pretty. it makes me smile to consider all the various foods they have held.

They are what is called soup plates....for serving soup, of course...:-) I had or perhaps maybe they are still stashed somewhere, a pair of those same patterened soup plates.

There is a lot of old ironstone/Staffordshire stuff still around and serving well. I have a stack of platters, as well as a pile of bowls.