Photos of the Month

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.

Grant Wood Certainly Knew His Tea

TCC members were treated to many transferware delights at our 2014 annual meeting held at Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library in Delaware.  Pictured here is part of the display in the special exhibit “Transferware:  A Story of Pattern and Color”; and obviously engaged meeting participants viewing various transferware-related documents and prints from the Winterthur library and archives (candid photo).

Just a sampling of the hundreds of children’s mugs in the collection of Historic New England (HNA), located in the Boston MA vicinity.  We viewed the mugs and much more at the HNA Collections and Conservation Center as part of our October 2013 Annual Meeting.  Read more about the meeting.  Read about every TCC Annual Meeting.

From a New Hampshire Collection, viewed during the TCC 2010 Annual Meeting.

Ceramic wonders tower over a visitor at the V&A Museum in London.

Two examples from the bat printing process.  Images by Robert Copeland.  For additional images, visit the TCC website Image Gallery:  https://www.transferwarecollectorsclub.org/annex/image-gallery/processes/processes-bat-printing/.  

A view of the famed Blue Room at the Spode pottery in Stoke-on-Trent.  Photo by Robert Copeland, from the TCC website Image Gallery.  Or visit the website of the Spode Museum Trust.

Very few of the 8,000 – 9,000 advertising pot lids portray an actual building, let alone the owner’s residence (in this case) or the actual manufactory (apparently across the road).  This one does.  According to the Historic England website, Summer House dates from around 1710-1720.  The lid probably dates from the later 19th century.  More information in the TCC DB, Pattern # 12307.