This Grayson Perry plate is a wonderful opportunity to acquire a piece by the beloved transvestite potter.

Grayson Perry plates come in a range of styles, some very rare and highly collectable with prices to match.

Upon winning the Turner Prize in 2003 Perry proclaimed ‘it’s about time a transvestite potter won the prize’. Hear Hear.  Yet it was years before that the national treasure got into ceramics and his first foray was into making plates.

While living in the London squats as a punk in1983 it was his then girlfriend invited Grayson to a pottery class.  In his own words going to a pottery class ‘was as uncool as it could get, naturally I agreed.’

These early Grayson Perry plates were recently showcased in his recent 'The Pre-Therapy Years' exhibition.   One plate in particular, the sublime 'Self Portrait Cracked and Warped' is the obvious precursor to the 100% Art Plate.  It's an early piece with a very similar text at the top, the whole plate is cracked and warped from the firing process... a happy accident that gives the plate drama.

An upside down self portrait can be seen at the bottom in a nod to George Baselitz.

Perhaps Perry's turning point was winning the Turner Prize in 2003.  It was largely his works in ceramics that caught the judges attention.  Classically shaped vases emblazoned with contemporary themes; class, identity and sexuality.  Perry at once embraces and subverts the craft. 

As a final note as to how important plates were to Grayson Perry it's worth having a look at the biography of his early years 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl'.  The final paragraph speaks of the end of his young self before he goes on to become the world-renowned artist we all know and love;

"I had seen the ceramics at the V&A, returned to the evening classes and asked the teacher, 'Have you got a plate mould?  I'd like to make a plate'.  The very first one worked reasonably well - because I put a coin over Jesus's cock it appeared as if he had an enormous wet dream while being crucified.  So I made my first ever plate, which was called, Kinky Sex."

His vases may be eye-wateringly expensive but you can still find a number of collectable Grayson Perry ceramics.  We have a few including Grayson Perry Plates, Grayson Perry Figurines, and Grayson Perry Planters.