Transferware Greeks and Dr. Franklin in Philadelphia

These transferware platters and Benjamin Franklin Staffordshire figure were seen at the Philadelphia Antiques Show during the recent TCC Annual Meeting. The platters at left and right are known as Greek #11 (TCC Database #4913), part of a series of more than 30 related center images using the same border that was introduced by Spode around 1805. The center platter is from the “Greek Pattern” (TCC Database #10731) made by an unidentified Staffordshire pottery. The center images of both patterns are based on late 18th century published sources illustrating Greek gods and myths. Dr. Franklin was Philadelphia’s most famous citizen in America and Europe during his lifetime and long after. It is not known which Staffordshire pottery produced this version of the Franklin figure in the  mid-19th century.