Wedgwood “October” Tile Puzzle

Wedgwood 6” x 6” “October” tile is seen between “September” and “November.” The tile depicts a boy walking with a pig while two crows look on. Nineteenth century viewers would likely have understood that the pig was being taken to the butcher. October was associated with butchering as the weather was colder and the meat would not spoil quickly. Before the advent of refrigeration, butchering large animals was avoided during the hot months. The Months series was designed by Helen Miles, a designer, painter, and illustrator who created several series of tiles for Wedgwood in the 1870s. They were produced in 6” and 8” sizes, with identical centers and the addition of a 1” outer border for the larger size. A document in the Wedgwood archives records that the series of months was registered in March 1878. The pattern also appears on dinnerware. This is pattern 49871 in the TCC Database.