Patterns of the Month

Shown on both a 9 inch plate and 13 inch comport, this view features a seated figure piping. The pattern is attributed to Careys on the basis of a piece bearing the factory mark and series name on a ribbon (FOB True Blue p. 86, Case 31/2). Cattle is the old English word for domestic animals, while today we only think of cows as cattle. 

This 7.25 inch plate with a molded alphabet border advertises a shoe store in Wingate, which is located in County Durham in England.

"Durham Ox With John Day" by an unknown maker is found on a 21 inch by 17 inch platter.  It was copied from an engraving  by T.Whessell after a painting by T. Boultbec.   See the engraving.  The Durham Ox is actually only found on this pattern and the 10" plate and soup plate.  The rest of the series portrays rural scenes with cows and cowmen. 

"Enniskerry in County Wicklow, Ireland" from the "Hibernia" series by John Wedge Wood (1841-1860) is found on an 8.12 inch plate.  Hibernia is the classical Latin name for Ireland.  The pattern is part of a series where each size and shape has a different scene.

"Fisherman," possibly by Minton (1793-1872),  is found on a  9.25 inch plate.  The pattern dates from around 1805. 

"Game Keeper" on earthenware in underglaze blue by an unknown maker, possibly Staffordshire, circa 1825. The backstamp features the title printed on a dog collar!

This advertising plate from the 1890s is transfer-printed on a 3 inch plate with the Standard Willow Border. It was intended as a give-away.

Giraffe markShown here is a 10 inch plate in the "Giraffe" pattern made by John Ridgway (1830-1841) to commemorate the giraffes brought to the new London Zoological Gardens in 1836. The pattern is the same on the entire dinner service. It also appears on a tea service, but with a different border. "Giraffe" was a very popular pattern. It was printed in every color except yellow. 

Shown is a 6.25 inch sauce with a pattern known as either "Girl with Calf" or "Girl with Lamb." It was made by John & William Ridgway (1813-1830). This pattern is one of many lovely rural and genre scenes found in the database.

"Harp" by R. Stevenson, printed in underglaze purple, Staffordshire circa 1830. This pattern is mainly seen in dark blue.

Commonly known as "Impatient Child," this pattern is printed on earthenware in yellow-green by an unknown maker. It was probably made in Staffordshire around 1825-1830. The pattern is usually seen in blue.

Shown here is an 11.81 inch by 9.45 inch polychrome platter advertising Mineral Waters, Brewed Ginger Beer & Hop Ale. The center image is based on "The Blind Fiddler" painted by the artist Sir David Wilkie in 1806. Jewsbury & Brown operated from 1826 until it merged with Schweppes in 1964.

Shown here is a Spode plate in the Lange Lijsen pattern, ca. 1810-1833. It was copied from a Chinese hand-painted pattern from the K'ang Hsi period, ca. 1700-1722.

The 4 inch miniature plate seen here is a Chinese hand-painted pattern with a simple version of the Long Eliza or Jumping Boy center pattern. The border is not elaborate on such a small piece.

Seen here is a 6.5 child's plate with a molded daisy border in a series depicting each of the months along with the appropriate sign of the Zodiac (look at the ram peeking over the shoulder of the man). It is impressed Scott (1840-1897) on the back, and was probably made around 1840.

Shown is a Chinoiserie pattern on a 5.75 inch saucer that was made by New Hall (1782-1835). It is printed on porcelain with a charmingly naive pattern that includes a large lion among chinamen and pagodas!

This 16.5 inch platter illustrates the reason for the interest in patterns that portray early America.  The beautifully printed pattern opens a window onto a view of New York City nearly two hundred years ago.  Made by Andrew Stevenson (1810-1836), the pattern is one of a series. 

Pangolin closeupThis pattern is found on a 4.25 inch saucer. The name of the armadillo-like animal, pangolin, is printed in the foliage at the bottom of the saucer (see the Additional Image). The pangolin is similar to an armadillo and an ant eater. It has large plate-like scales, and in the past was thought to be a link between mammals and reptiles. It is a mammal. Pangolins are an endangered species as it is thought that its ground up scales are a cure for cancer or asthma. They are also considered a delicious exotic food. Their plight is similar to that of the rhinoceros which is hunted for the magical properties of its horn. 

This pattern dates from the late 19th century.   The contents for dental products, food, hair products, shaving cream, soaps and medicinal ointments were commonly sold in a pottery pot with a transfer printed lid until World War I.  Black printed lids were the most common.  This is a particularly detailed pattern, as you can even see the blood dripping from the man's face where he cut it shaving.  Perhaps the pattern is suggesting that the man wasn't using Ede's shaving cream! Pot lid, 3.25 inches.  

"Picturesque Views, Hudson, Hudson River" by James and Ralph Clews, printed in underglaze brown, Staffordshire circa 1835. The central view varies according to size. The views of the Hudson River area are taken from W.G. Walls's Hudson River Portfolio. There are also views from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. The series is also printed in black, light blue, pink (red) and purple.

Found on a 5 inch plate, this pattern is surrounded by an alphabet border with a Vitruvian scroll edge. There are two maxims that relate to the pattern: "I never saw an oft removed tree nor yet an oft removed family that did so well as those that  settled be" and "Three removes are as bad as a fire and a rolling stone gathers no moss" (actually three maxims!). Poor Richard is the alter ego of Benjamin Franklin.

The" Quadrupeds" dinner service is quite extensive, with a different animal in the center of each size and shape, as well as in the medallions in the border. This 6 inch plate features a mastiff in the center, with horses, sheep, a water vole (I thought this was a beaver) and a squirrel in the border medallions.

Source print: "Mastiff & Lion Dog" The engraving is by J. Tookey, after a drawing by Julius Ibbetson. The engraving is found in "The Cabinet of Quadrupeds" by John Church (c. 1803). The pottery engraver left out the lion dog!

The 4.5 inch plate seen here was made by the Don Pottery (1801-1839) in North Rotherham, Yorkshire. The pattern shows a woman milking a reindeer while her children play nearby.

This 19.68 by 14.8 inch platter, known as Night Sea Battle, is from the Shipping Series by an unknown maker. The pattern shows the ships "Blanche" and "La Pique". 

"Signing Of Magna Charta" by Jones (& Son) is printed in underglaze black on a 10.12 inch plate.  This pattern is one of 16 scenes in the "British History" series.  Jones & Son was in business for a short time (1826-1828) and the mark on this plate, Jones only, suggests that the plate was made after this period.