Early 19th C. Motto Plate, Experience Keeps a Dear School wooden stamo I've eyed and almost purchased

I've eyed and almost purchased a few different woodpecker shaped knockers

This beautiful piece

designed by David Gil in the 1950s and impressed DG on the base

It's the face on the girl in the foreground that really sold me on this one

Stamped Turnstall

Early 19th C. Motto Plate, Experience Keeps a Dear School wooden stamo I've eyed and almost purchasedI just can't resist these early transferware motto plates kind of like Battersea boxes, but not quite as precious and perhaps old words of wisdom feel especially welcome these days. These particular words came from none other than Ben Franklin, and they do seem pretty wise to me though I'm not sure even a good deal of experience always wards off foolishness! I especially like this old school use of the word "dear" here, and very pretty wreath with bow