Dutch Delft Orangistic slogan plate

This rare plate in blue, manganese, iron-red and yellow is an important historical piece depicting Willem V (1748-1806), Prince of Orange and stadtholder of the Republic of The Seven United Netherlands. The letters “PWD5” stand for Prince Willem the Fifth.  
He is displayed heroic and depicted very detailed comparable to other Orangistic plates made in Delft. They are produced for the support of parties in the civil war during the democratic revolution in The Netherlands at the end of the 18th century. It was common to use plates, glasses, tokens and other dishes to display your political support against or in favor of the House of Oranje-Nassau.   This plate can be precisely dated around 1787 because of the slogan on the plate that reads: “De prins herstelt; vrij van gewelt; geen blijder dag; ik nimmer zag;” (The prince recovers; free of violence; there was no luckier day; I ever saw).    

His rule was marked by economic instability, colonial losses and triggered resentment among the Patriots, a faction of dissatisfied citizens longing to revive the Republic's former grandeur. In 1786, the lasting conflict between the Orangists (pro hereditary governorship of the House of Orange Nassau) and the Patriots (pro republic) compelled the Orange couple to flee in their own country away from the administrative center in The Hague. Eventually, with the help of his wife and intervention of Prussian troops, Prince Willem V regained control in 1787. Nevertheless, his authority over the country lasted for only a few years before Batavian revolutionaries invade the Netherlands.

Condition: Usual (normal) wear to the rim + professional restoration to a crack of the border on the lower left side, only UV-visible.

Reference: A similar example is in the possession of The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Reims, inventory nr. 892.4.533.