This evocative fragment comes from a large plate, probably made in Staffordshire. It was found during excavations on the site of a house on the main street of Mountsorrel.
The image is probably one of the Stuart kings, either Charles II or James II. It is made from 'slipware', a style that had its heyday in the mid to late 17th century. These large decorative chargers are some of the first souvenir or commemorative items that survive. They often feature kings and queens, generals or other important people and celebrate key moments such as the Restoration, major battles or sometimes very personal events such as marriages and the births of children.
