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Henrywood's Highlights
Transferware from a British Perspective

Number Four of an Ongoing Series by Dick Henrywood

My previous outing for this regular feature concentrated on Elijah Jones “Mammalia” series and has produced little response so far, although the printed version in the Bulletin had not been circulated at the time of writing. Having said that, examples are known to be quite rare but we may yet see some new patterns emerge.

For this fourth instalment I have chosen another series from the 1830s which did not appear in any detail in The Dictionary of Blue & White Printed Pottery.

“Arabian Sketches” series

A series of romantic-style scenes produced by William Hackwood in the 1830s. It is also possible that wares remained in production by William & Thomas Hackwood after 1843. The central scenes appear within a border which features scenic vignettes separated by linked foliate-scroll floral cartouches, with an inner band of radiating leafy fronds. The printed mark has the individual pattern title on a leafy panel with the series title above (surmounted by a small flower spray) and the maker’s initials WH beneath.

No source for the patterns has yet been identified although they may have been copied from prints. Surviving examples turn up infrequently and are all plates or platters, printed in blue, blue-green, red or pink, and various shades of lavender or purple.


“Arab Family” blue platter and mark (courtesy Dawson & Nye)

“Arabs Halting” plum soup plate (courtesy Dawson & Nye)

“The March” blue-green plate and mark (courtesy Dawson & Nye)

Only five scenes have been recorded to date:

"Arab Family”
Platter 21in
Illustrations: Henrywood 138 (mark)

“Arabs Halting”
Dinner plate 10.4in
Soup plate 10.2in

“The Alarm”
Platter 15in

“The March”
Dessert plate 9in
Illustrations: Snyder 104 (plate, mark); Williams 2/71 (plate, mark)

“The Sentinel”
Tea plate 7.9in

I am not aware of any other illustrations in the usual published literature, nor do any patterns appear in the club’s database, so it can be seen that our knowledge is fragmentary. I have been able to confirm all five of these titles but it must have been a complete dinner service, so where are all the other pieces? I can offer illustrations and/or marks from three of the patterns, but can anyone out there provide any other images or information?

Any photos or additional information would be gratefully received and will be reported in future Bulletins. Contributions should be sent to Dick Henrywood by e-mail: dhenrywood@bowstation.com.

Nand examples have a printed mark in the form of a scenic vignette featuring the individual title on a rectangular panel, with the series title above and the maker’s name E. & G. Phillips beneath. Later examples have the potters’ full name replaced by initials GP.

Back in September 1988, In the Northern Ceramics Society’s Newsletter number 71, Louise Richardson, suggested that the series depicts incidents in the insurrection which began in Warsaw on 29 January 1830. It escalated into a large scale revolt but was eventually defeated by Russian forces in September 1831 although some 10,000 political leaders and soldiers were forced to emigrate.

No source for the scenes has yet been identified and surviving examples appear quite scarce. They are all dinner wares, predominantly plates and platters, printed in blue, brown, purple, various shades of pink or red, and possibly also green.

The following scenes have been recorded:

“A Tear for Poland”

Dinner plate 10.7in
Illustrations: Williams 1/377 (plate)
D1168, D1169 (mark)

“Patriot’s Departure” *

Platter 17in

“Polish Prisoner” *

Platter 19in
Illustrations: FOB108 (blue platter 48.2cm)

“The Enquiry” *

Platter 13.5in

“The Messenger”

Plate 9in
Illustrations: NCS71 (pink plate 9in and mark)

“Wearied Poles” *

Platter 9.5in

“Wounded Pole” *

Plate 6.5in

Unidentified Scene A

Vegetable dish and cover

Again it can be seen that our knowledge is nowhere near complete with known titles appearing on only plates and platters. I have been unable to confirm the titles marked with an asterisk, so confirmation of these would be welcome. I have recorded the existence of a vegetable dish, sadly without any title, so it must have been a complete dinner service. In this case I can offer illustrations of the dinner plate and its mark printed in brown. Can anyone out there provide any other images or information about the tureens, the missing platters and plates, and even the soup plate?

Any photos or additional information would be gratefully received and will be reported in future Bulletins. Contributions should be sent to Dick Henrywood by e-mail: dhenrywood@bowstation.com .

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Henrywood's Highlights Transferware from a British Perspective

“Arabian Sketches” series

Henrywood's Highlights
Transferware from a British Perspective