Photos of the Month

Ceramic artist Forrest Middleton, of FLM Ceramics in Petaluma, CA, creates transfer-printed pottery using tissue transfers from silk screened “plates”, applied directly to the thrown or formed pot or tile. For more information, see the FLM website: http://www.flmceramics.com

At least 107 transferware patterns are appended to interior and exterior walls at four locations within Junagarh Fort. Shown here is a projecting window surround, with at least 37 patterns. How many can you identify? Refer to the 2020 article by Hoexter and Siddall, in TCC Bulletin Vol. XXI, No. 3.  Members can download the entire bulletin; the article is available to anyone here.

Judge for yourself the quality of the source print, and what was deleted/added to the transferware engraving. The source print is “Ceremony of Washing the Goddess Cali and the Idol Jagan-Nath”, found in Cyclopedia Londiniensis, 1805; the 5.25 inch high by 11.75 inch diameter bowl is by an unknown maker. More information in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources; this pattern is named “Goddess Kali”, and is DB entry #4793. 

Thanks to Rob Hunter’s FB site for this ca. 1765-70 transferware  (bat printed?) sepia creamware plate in the Chipstone collection, with an image of Hector being dragged around the walls of Troy behind Achilles’ cart as described in Homer’s Iliad.  Thanks to Google Images and the website Alamy for this 1719 public domain image of a print by Bernard Picart, the probable source print, although Chipstone references an engraving by T. Rothwell from a 1711 translation of the Iliad.  Whatever the source, the plate is spectacular! Click on image for larger version.

A winter aerial view of the Dudson Museum, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.  Thanks to Phil Rowley and the website StokeOnTrentLive.

Atkinson’s Bears Grease pot lid, 57 mm (2.24 in) diameter. Bears grease was a popular pomade for men’s hair. The company occupied the 44 Gerrard Street London address between 1818 and 1832, making this lid one of the earliest! The accompanying polar bear figure is 9-½ inches high and 16 inches long, and is extremely uncommon (only a handful known).  It would have likely been placed in a shop window.   Little doubt Staffordshire, England, although makers, unknown. Photo credits: Bob Houghton (lid), David Hoexter (bear figure). 

An Australian graduate student has asked for our assistance in identifying this apparent retailers mark, which includes text in (possibly) Cyrillic.  Please send your thoughts to the TCC web administrator, webadministrator@transferwarecollectorsclub.org.

We often receive requests on the TCC website Message Board for assistance in identifying patterns. We generally can successfully provide the pattern name and related information. But occasionally a request stumps us. Following is the first in what no doubt will be a series of requests for members’ help. This mug, missing its handle, is 5 inches high and wide (diameter). It currently resides in Scotland. The member(s) who successfully provides pattern ID, maker, and anything else of interest wins great fame and bragging rights.

Earthenware creamware jug, ca. 1800.

No comment on the phrase.

Courtesy of Paul Vandekar, from his FB site.

A residence interior wall with various items, enhanced with just one transferware platter.  The pattern is “Masonic Institution for Girls, St George’s Field, Southwark”. This example is 11.5 X 14 inches, smaller than the example shown in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources, where it is record # 3886. The building was constructed in the late 18th c and housed up to 100 orphaned daughters of freemasons through 1856. Although the maker is unknown, a retailers mark on the reverse names John Burn, Newport Market, London, and in cludes the name J.J. Cuff, who operated a tavern and coffee ship on the premises in 1805 and at least through the printing of this platter, probably the 1820s. TCC members can view the DB entry for additional information. 

Life in Stoke, undated photo. Courtesy of Peter Lovatt in Potteries of Stoke on Trent Facebook site.

 Image courtesy of Potteries of Stoke On Trent Facebook page.

Gathering for presentations in Kent and Margie Williams’ garage in Newcastle, California, during the TCC Western Regional meeting in June, 2009, and a tiny fraction of Margie’s pink (Margie not in photo).

Lunch provided by Michael Sack at the October 2022 TCC San Francisco meeting.  Why not put your beautiful pieces to work?  Not dishwasher safe, and please, nothing acidic and no cutting.

Spotted during our 2010 meeting in New England.

Thanks to Terry Woolliscroft for sharing his painting of Conway Pottery.  Shown here is a 1970 photo, and Terry’s rendition.  Sadly, the building and its two ovens are gone. Credits:  photo and painting courtesy of Terry Woolliscroft.

Sharing transferware tales at the California Regional Meeting in 2011.  Details for the forthcoming regional meetings in the San Francisco Area and Deerfield, MA are forthcoming.

Transfer printed toast racks are uncommon, particularly when printed with an architectural themed image.  It is difficult to tell, but it appears that one engraving was used, and the printed tissue cut down to fit the variably sized dividers.   We would welcome additional images of transfer printed toast racks.

Thanks to Dennis and Ann Berard, our 2010 New England annual meeting hosts.

Our primary image depicts a sampling of the women who have worked at Spode Works over the years.  Note the image at the upper left, which depicts a painter at work, perhaps in the 1940s (????).  Now focus on the plate, which is Spode’s “Indian Tree” pattern.  According to the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources, this pattern was produced from 1877 through at least 1957.  Finally, we draw your attention to the second and third photos, which date from November 2021.  This Indian Tree dinner service (only a small portion is shown) was the 1947 wedding set of Mary and Henry Hoexter, in San Francisco, California, and is still in use (although not on a daily basis) and loved to this day.  Thanks to the Spode Museum Trust Heritage Center Facebook page and Judie Siddall / David Hoexter for the images.

Thanks to Pat Halfpenny for this iconic photo/postcard of Stoke-on-Trent on a less than clear air day.  See the February 2021 Photo of the Month in the TCC website to compare with an actual clear air day.

A highlight of many TCC annual meetings is handling and discussing features associated with various transferware patterns and forms.  This montage shows a handling session during our 2016 Charlottesville, VA meeting.  We travelled one day to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA, to view the Reeves Collection of Chinese export porcelain and armorial porcelain, with examples dating from 1500 to the present. We were royally hosted by curator Ron Fuchs.  

Winter scene of the Dudson Museum (housed primarily in the large bottle oven!).  Drone view by the Stoke Sentinel; thanks to Phil Rowley.  Interior view from the museum’s website.   More Information.

A smattering of Christmas and New Year transferware patterns.  All from the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources. Members, search for more!

A Happy New Year to You:  Children’s Plate, maker unknown, TCC DB 14479.

Christmas Bells (A Merry Christmas and (A Happy New Year):  small bowl by David Lockhart & Co, 1876-98, TCC DB 13422.

Christmas Eve (Wilkie’s Designs) series: plate by Ralph & James Clews, 1814-34, TCC DB 1972.

Father Christmas:  Children’s Plate by Charles Allerton & Sons, 1832-42, TCC DB 8564.

Xmas Eve:  Pratt/Polychrome pot lid, by F.&R. Pratt & Co, TCC DB 11670.