Patterns of the Month

Shown is a 15 inch by 11.5 inch platter printed with a pattern known as Date Palm and Royal Barge. The maker of this pattern is unknown. Robert Copeland, in his 2003 Shire book “Blue and White Transfer-Printed Pottery”, illustrates this pattern on a plate, upper right, p. 20. For TCC members, this is pattern #476 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources.

The April Pattern of the Month features the third of four Rabbitware themes. Rabbitware, an uncommon transferware genre, was produced around the turn of the 20th century (some patterns possibly earlier) for the American market. It is a combination of transfer printing and stick sponge with hand painting. Forms produced include (primarily) plates, chargers, (rarely) oval platters, and (rarely) mugs, small jugs and a few additional, miscellaneous, forms. There are four pattern categories or series. Two series are anthropomorphic: Sports (featured in the February POM), and Vignette (featured in this April POM). The two additional, much more common series, are Border Rabbits (pending) and Center Rabbits (featured in our March 2025 POM) (both series commonly but not always including frogs!). We’ll post examples of the third and fourth series in April and May. The maker of the current series is unknown (only the maker of the Sports Series is known). This example is one of three vignette patterns. Each of the three Vignette patterns features four differing cartouches, thus, 12 in total. The individual cartouches appear to be the same for each of the three patterns, but placement around the plate differs, probably at the whim of the employee placing the transfer tissue onto the plate. The TCC Database of Patterns and Sources currently documents 12 Rabbitware patterns (simply search under “rabbitware”, with more due to be recorded; however, all three Vignette groups are recorded. For more information, view the DB records and an introductory article on the subject by Siddall and Hoexter in the 2010 Vol. XI no. 1 TCC Bulletin, available to download.

The March Pattern of the Month features the second of four Rabbitware themes. Rabbitware, an uncommon transferware genre, was produced around the turn of the 20th century (some patterns possibly earlier) for the American market. It is a combination of transfer printing and stick sponge with hand painting. Forms produced include (primarily) plates, chargers, (rarely) oval platters, and (rarely) mugs, small jugs and a few additional, miscellaneous, forms. There are four pattern categories or series. Two series are anthropomorphic: Sports (featured in the February POM), and Vignette (pending). The two additional, much more common series, are Border Rabbits (also pending) and Center Rabbits (both series commonly but not always including frogs!). We’ll post examples of the third and fourth series in April and May. The maker of the current and two remaining series is unknown (only the maker of the Sports Series is known).

This example is one of five rabbit center patterns. The patterns vary in number and positions of the rabbits; whether a frog is present, or not; and whether trees and a fence are present in the background. All five patterns also appear within somewhat differing sponge/painted surrounds. The painter(s) obviously followed certain guidelines but were allowed a lot of creative freedom within these guidelines. The TCC Database of Patterns and Sources currently documents 12 Rabbitware patterns (simply search under “rabbitware”, with more due to be recorded. For more information, view the DB records and an introductory article on the subject by Siddall and Hoexter in the 2010 Vol. XI no. 1 TCC Bulletin, available to download.

Rabbitware, an uncommon transferware genre, was produced around the turn of the 20th century (some patterns possibly earlier) for the American market (as exemplified by eBay offerings only from American sellers, and a printed mark indicating Smith Patterson Company, a Boston importer). It is a combination of transfer printing and stick sponge with hand painting. Forms produced include (primarily) plates, chargers, (rarely) oval platters, and (rarely) mugs, small jugs and a few additional, miscellaneous, forms. There are four pattern categories or series. Two series are anthropomorphic: Sports (including this example, Rabbits Playing Baseball, one of six in the Sports series), and Vignette. The two additional, much more common series, are Border Rabbits and Center Rabbits (both series commonly including frogs!). We’ll post examples of each series over following months. The maker of the Sports Series is William Baker & Co, High Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent (1839 - 1932), identified by the registration number shown on the reverse. This example is Rabbits Playing Baseball; each of the six Sports Series patterns dates 1905, as identified by its registration number. The maker(s) of the other three series is (are) unknown, as the wares are never marked. The TCC Database of Patterns and Sources currently documents 12 Rabbitware patterns (simply search under “rabbitware”, with more (including the example shown herein) due to be recorded. For more information, view the DB records and an introductory article on the subject by Siddall and Hoexter in the 2010 Vol. XI no. 1 TCC Bulletin, available to download at https://www.transferwarecollectorsclub.org/bulletin_previews/articles/2010_Winter_TCCBulletin_Feature.pdf.

This 9.75 inch plate was made by W.T. Copeland (& Sons). The company was in business from 1847-1970. The RD number on the back of the plate includes the letter K for 1857. The message on the plate, “A Happy New Year To You”, is the wish to you from the TCC!

Shown is an eight inch tile from Wedgwood’s Months. The pattern is “December”. For TCC members, this is pattern #3455 (on a six inch tile without a border) and pattern #17209 (on a ten inch plate). All of the Months, created by the artist Helen Miles, are found in the TCC Database.

Shown is a platter known as Birds of Prey. It is from the Ornithological Series by an unknown maker. The large birds are an eagle and a vulture. For TCC members, this is pattern #17928. The TCC Database of Patterns and sources includes 21 additional patterns from this series.

Shown is a 9.75 inch plate, The Sepulchre of Absalom, made by Josiah Wedgwood (1759-2005). For more information, it is pattern #229 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources.

Shown is a 10 inch plate from a group of nautical scenes known as the Shipping Series. The maker is unknown. This is pattern #4239 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources.

Shown is a 7.3 inch plate, “August”, made by John Wood (1872-1910). It is part of a series illustrating the months of the year. For TCC members, it is pattern #10869 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources.

Shown is a Josiah Wedgwood (1759-2005) platter printed with the Water Lily #01 pattern. This is the original version of the Water Lily pattern, that proved to be too expensive to make. It was replaced in 1811, when Josiah II said that it would be removed from display. He added that the pattern would be reissued in blue with an altered border. For TCC members, see pattern #16308 and pattern #1652 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources for more information.

Shown is a yellow glazed 5" jug with a leopard or cheetah pattern. The maker is unknown. For members, this is pattern #18958 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources.

Shown is a plate made by C.J. & G.M. Mason (1813-1826) known as Chinese Dragon. For TCC members, this is pattern #18559 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources.

Shown is a ten inch plate titled “Water Works Philadelphia.” It was, made by Ralph Stevenson & Williams (1825-1827). For TCC members, the pattern is #3137.

Shown is a 6 inch tile made by Josiah Wedgwood (1759-2005). It is part of the Wedgwood's Months series. For TCC members, this pattern #17413.

Shown on a 1.7 inches high pot, from an unknown maker. The pattern is a rebus: a combination of words and pictures. Click on the heading of this entry to view the additional images on the pot. The advertisement is for a hair restorer. The pattern uses the words, The, Deal, and Restorer. The pictures that replace the words, I and Hair, are an eye and a hare. The pattern is clever and attractive, which is what you would want for an advertisment that holds your product. The pot or container probably had a paper lid or a paper band that included the name of the maker or retailer plus other information about the product. For TCC members, this is pattern #17852 in the Database of Patterns and Sources. To see other patterns that advertise hair products, search Advertising/Hair Products/Pomades in the database.

Shown is 9.25 inch plate with a pattern known as Rabbits in a Roadster. It is from a series of six different anthropomorphic scenes of rabbits engaged in various activities. All of the patterns in this series have transferware rabbits along with stick sponge decoration. For members, this is pattern #17852 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources. The maker of the pattern has been unknown until recently. Information about the maker of this pattern and series will be incorporated in a future article in the TCC Bulletin.

Shown is a plate made by Herculaneum (1796-1840), ca. 1828-1830. It has a molded border. The pattern, “A Chop House," shows three men enjoying a meal at a chop house (men only). For TCC members, this is pattern #17521 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources. The source print for this pattern is included in the entry.

This pattern, known as Butterflies and Flowers, was made by the Herculaneum Factory (1796-1840) circa 1828-1830. It is pattern #19805 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources.

Shown is a 10 inch plate titled “Chief Justice Marshall, Troy.” It was made by Enoch Wood & Sons (1818-1846). The ship was launched in 1825, and it was lost as a result of a gale in Long Island Sound in 1835. The pattern is part of a large series known as the Irregular Shell Border Series.

Shown is a saucer of unknown size and maker. The style of printing decoration includes high temperature painted color applied to a transfer print under the glaze. It is also known as Salopian decoration. The birds may be finches, perhaps goldfinches. For more information, this is pattern #6711 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources (members only).

Shown is a 7.63 inch plate that features a portrait of General La Fayette (as used on the plate). It was made to honor General Lafayette (current spelling), who joined the American War of Independence in1777. Lafayette was greatly honored by the United States when he was invited back in 1822. The wording on the plate is: "He was born at Auvergne in France 1757, joined the American struggle in 1777 and in 1824 returned to repose in the bosom of the land whose liberty he in part gave birth to.” The pattern is #18238 In the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources (members only).

This pattern, “Neil” #03, is from a series of Aesthetic floral patterns. It was made by William Brownfield (& Son(s)), who were in business from 1850-1892. For more information about this pattern, see pattern #19270 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources (TCC members only). To learn more about the series, see pattern #4268.

Shown is a 2.64 inch pot lid that advertises Circassian Cream. It was a relatively expensive cold cream or pomade, which was used during the Victorian period. Circassia was located in eastern Europe near the northeastern Black Sea coast. Price & Co. was located in London at various addresses, 28 Lombard Street at the time this lid was produced. In addition to cold creams, the company produced bears grease pomades, tooth pastes, and other products. For TCC members, this is pattern #20337 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources.