Patterns of the Month

Known as "The Bewick Stag", this 9.5 inch pearlware plate is printed in underglaze blue by Minton. A General History of Quadrupeds (1790) by Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) pictures the Stag or Red Deer. He stands at the center of this earthenware dinner plate. Behind him are two smaller stags and, perhaps, a female deer. The border consists of vignettes which Bewick used on the his title pages or at the end of his descriptions of animals. Two have been identified. One is called "A Crouching Leopard Ready to Spring" c. 1792, which appears in the third edition of Quadrupeds, p. 92. The other is "Dogs Disputing", which appears in the 1826 edition of Bewick's Water Birds, p. 414. The other vignettes may also be by Bewick or by one of his apprentices. The "Crouching Leopard" vignette was used as the central pattern by other makers.

Shown is a 9.5 inch plate made by Pinder, Bourne & Co. (1862-1882). The Registry diamond indicates a date of May 29, 1879. The striking blue transfer vase and the Chrysanthemums are the only parts of the pattern that are transferred. The textured gold background and the table have been hand painted. This is also true of the image of the man holding a jug in the vase medallion. The pattern has a TCC assigned name.

Shown is an 8.5 inch dessert plate in the Broseley Dragon pattern; ca. 1800-1805. It was made by the Coalport Porcelain Works (John Rose & Co.) 1795 to the present.

Char Dish markSeen is a 9.25 inch dish made by Spode (1770-1833) in the early part of the 19th century. The dish was probably intended for serving potted char. The Arctic or sub-Arctic char is both a fresh water and salt water fish. It is similar to trout or salmon, and is found in very cold lakes and coastal waters.

Shown here on a 6.31 inch child's plate are hands illustrating the sign language alphabet consonants in two circles surrounding a single hand showing the vowels. Children's patterns were often used as teaching tools, and this one would be as useful today as it was in the 19th century. However, the alphabet is an example of the British manual alphabet which uses two hands rather than the American manual alphabet which uses one hand. 

Children's patterns were often given as rewards for good behavior, christening presents and teaching tools. Children, in general, like animals, so this 5.75 inch plate with an exotic animal would have been a delightful gift.

Shown is a 9.25 inch soup plate printed in blue with a Chinese dragon.  A pseudo Chinese mark is printed on the back.  The pattern is based on a Chinese original design. 

Shown is an Enoch Wood & Sons (1818-1846) 9 inch plate named “Chinese Phoenix” by the TCC.  The dark blue color indicates that the pattern was made for the American Market.

Shown is a 13 by 10 inch platter in the “Clyde Scenery” series by John & Job Jackson (1831-1835). The pattern here is “Blythswood House.” In addition to purple, the pattern was printed in blue, black, brown, pink, green and two color. The TCC Database of Patterns and Sources shows 23 patterns in this series.

Shown is an earthenware 8 inch plate in the pattern known as "Dagger Border Class V." It was made by Wood & Caldwell (1790-1818), and is based on a Chinese hand-painted porcelain original.

Left: Wood & Caldwell 8 inch plate in the Dagger Border Class V pattern.
Right: The hand-painted Chinese Export hand-painted pattern, which is the source of the Dagger Border pattern.

Shown is an eight inch porcelain dish that is printed in underglaze black and painted in green. It was made by Machin & Co. (1802-1831). The pattern number, which is painted on the back of the dish, is “862.” The pattern shows both the dragon and the phoenix. 

Shown is a 4 inch planter in a British Themes Commemorative pattern titled “Entrance to the Liverpool & Manchester Railway.” The maker is unknown. This is a view of the famed Moorish Arch at Edge Hill in Liverpool, built in 1829 as part of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway which opened in 1830. It was the first railway line to carry passengers. The first photo shows the arch, and the second photo shows the train. 

Shown is a dinner plate of unknown size made by Pountney & Allies (1816-1835), ca, 1835. The center shows advertising for the Free Masons Tavern & City Coffee House on Bridge Street along with the border commonly used by Pountney & Allies for their “Sicilian” pattern. This establishment was in business on Bridge Street in Bristol from around 1820 until 1866.

Shown is a 10.75 inch plate known as Geese with Peonies and Feathers. It was made by G.M. & C.J. Mason (1813-1826). The pattern is #11719 in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources.

“Genuine Bears Grease” 2.8 inch pot lid. John Gosnell & Co. was the importer. Bear’s grease was used as a pomade for men’s hair. When the supply of bears decreased, pomade was made from cow's grease.

"Harvard College" by Enoch Wood & Sons (1818-1846).This 10.5 inch plate is printed in dark brown, and is from Wood's Celtic China series, probably circa 1835-1846. David and Linda Arman in Historical Staffordshire, An Illustrated Check-List (1974) list 18 views in this series. The series, printed in black, brown, purple, light blue, pink and green, portrays scenic views of historical America.

Seen here is a 2.35 inch tall and 2.5 inch wide child's (note the cartoon-like eagle) yellow glazed mug which appears to be a commemorative piece. Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801-1809) and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. This pattern belongs in the American Themes category. 

Seen is pattern no. 63 in the series known as the Kennard Birds and Fish Series. The mark includes the name of the artist, Edward Kennard (1842-1910), as well as the manufacturer, T.C. Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co. (1862-1902), and the retailer, John Mortlock. The pattern is part of a dinner service of 100 pieces decorated with birds, fish and other animals in a natural setting.

Shown is a 6.5 inch plate titled “Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom of Coventry.” The source print for the pattern is from the “History of Covertry,” which was published in 1852.

Shown is an English advertising pot lid, 2.75 inches in diameter. The advertising promises a lot of things! The text reads: "Marisanta / A Curative Salve / Draws and Heals / Cuts, Scalds, Burns, Festers / Gatherings, Boils, Whitlows, Chilblains / For All Wounds / Amicus Humani Generis.” The Latin phrase translates: “Friend of the Human Race.” This pattern is part of the Advertising Category of the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources. 

This series was  made by Andrew Stevenson (1810-1836).  Each size and shape has a different bird or birds in the center.  This 10 inch plate depicts a peacock and turkey. 

Shown is a pattern in the Animals Category/Birds in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources. The pattern, known as Parrot, was made by Copeland & Garrett (1833-1847).

Peace and Plenty markShown here is a 14.5 inch platter known as "Peace and Plenty". It was made around 1825 by James and Ralph Clews (1813-1834) to celebrate the young United States. The pattern is found on many shapes and sizes.

Philadelphia Waterworks print"The Dam And Water Works Philadelphia"  is one of two patterns on a 10 inch plate depicting this view.  However, each view has a different boat in the foreground.  This pattern is known as "Stern Wheel" boat view, as opposed to the "Side Wheel" version.  The backgrounds of the Water Works are the same on each.  The source of this view is a drawing by Thomas Birch, engraved by R. Campbell, 1824.  The pattern was made by Henshall & Co. (1790-1828).  

"Quadrupeds" by John Hall, printed in underglaze blue on earthenware, Staffordshire circa 1825. The central animal pattern and the animals in the border vary by size. This is a huge series filled with animals