This post is my last one about Pottery of the Post Medieval times and, as stated in previous posts I have chosen some of the most famous pottery manufacturers as well as my favorites.I will however give a few other popular pottery manufacturers which you may be interested in to study, with a view to collecting in the future.
COALPORT PORCELAIN
John Rose began his career as an apprentice at the Caughley Porcelain Manufactory on the opposite bank of the River Severn England. Luckily for John he was apprenticed to Thomas Turner, an eminent engraver and potter. By 1796 when John Rose, and Edward Blakeley a former Mayor of Shrewsbury and a shareholder in the spectacular Iron Bridge built over the River Severn. They bought the Caughley pottery in l799 and set up another at nearby Jackfield a year later, and shortly afterwards moved the complete business to Coalport where they produced a good quality hard-past porcelain
During the Coalport- Caughley period decoration in the factory was chiefly painting and printing in underglaze blue, with a small amount of enameling. Dinner services decorated with chinoiserie scenes, in imitation of the blue painted Chinese export wares were especially popular , helped by the fact that East India Company had ceased to import Oriental wares. The outstanding designs followed Caughley and included the famous Willow pattern and the Broseley dragon printed in blues-a pure cobalt and lavender- touched with gold. Painted decoration was minimal on ordinary table ware with simple floral designs.Excavations carried out at the Caughley site clearly identified a popular form of plate with six regularly spaced indentations around the rim, they are of a type that was obviously among those sold in the white glazed state to outside decorators.
Caughley Blue and White Pickle Dish c l800. Fisherman and Cormorant pattern.
During the l800s the Coalport factory produced a range of shapes and patterns but the” Japan ” patterns with their areas of deep underglaze blue and overglazed red ,green and gilt embellishments are prominent. These Japan patterns are associated with the Derby factory but they were common to most ceramic manufacturers.
Coalport Dessert Plate Imari design c l8l5.
Coalport Porcelain plate The Tree of Life pattern c l8l0
The blue and white is usually my favorite but this Coalport Tree of Life pattern is exceedingly beautiful.
Coalport Jardinaire c l795-l8l0
Soon after l8l0 Coalport china was recognized by its soft white tone, clear surface and creamy translucency. Further technical improvements in the early l820s it was made yet more purely white, finer textured, with a high white translucency. A soft, smooth lead glaze was used until l820 when John Rose introduced his celebrated leadless glaze, hard, transparent and highly lustrous. The presence of lead in the glaze had an advert effect on the enamels laid over it, particularly the sensitive tints and those prepared from gold oxide.
In l82l Samuel Walker introduced a beautiful maroon ground which became a Coalport characteristic. Decoration became richer and more varied and in the reign of George lV; splendid dinner, dessert and tea sets were issued in brilliant colors with highly burnished gilding.
This magnificent centerpiece, along with the rest of the service, was made at the Coalport Factory for the visit of the Tsar Nicholas l to England in l845. Now in the Coalport China Museum
From the l830s highly ornamented, rococo shapes and flower- encrustation on items such as vases, clock cases, ink-stands. baskets, jugs and pastille burners were overlaid with masses of small flowers. These flower encrusted wares are usually known as Coalbrookdale and maybe so marked in blue.
A beautiful Coalbrookdale Teapot l9th century
Below Coalport China Basket.
Coalport was the first English pottery to reproduce the famous “rose pompadour” for which a gold medal was awarded at the Great Exhibition.l85l .
Below are some Coalbrookdale-Coalport marks to be found on some of the pottery items.
Here as promised, are a few more names of popular pottery manufacturers from the 18th-19th centuries you may like to research yourselves should you be interested.
PARIAN WARE.
Parian Ware was popular in Victorian times because of its marble like beauty and because it was inexpensive to buy at that time. Several English factories claimed credit for its development. But the Staffordshire firm operated by William Taylor Copeland and Thomas Garret was the first to produce and sell it in l842. It was produced by other manufacturers but called a different name. Copeland called it “Statuary Porcelain ” . Wedgewood named it “Carrara” but it was Minton who coined the word “Parian” to suggest Paros, the Greek isle.
Popular forms produced were portrait busts of notables such as Shakespeare, Disraeli, and Napoleon but the Victorians favored pitchers and vases of various sizes and shapes. Potteries all over the British Isles produced Parian. Leading makers of it included, Copeland , Minton, Worcester, Wedgewood, Goss and others.
Parian Ware Jug.
STONEWARES.
The Elers Brothers produced Red Stone Wares and were very popular in the l7-l8th century
Elers Red stoneware teapot c l690-l695
Below is an example of a Salt Glazed Stoneware teapot made in Staffordshire painted in enamels c l750.
There are many Staffordshire potters too numerous to add here but you can look them up for yourself if you are interested.
THOMAS TOFT SLIPWARES (STAFFORDSHIRE )
An Early Thomas Toft Slipware Dish.
EARLY SPODE.
A l9th century Spode hand painted and gilded Sucrier
SOME TIPS TO LOOK FOR.
Remember to look at markings either at the underside of an item or just inside the base rim.
The color of early gilding is usually a deeper mature gold whereas later gilding is more brassy
Porcelain is transparent as is Parian Ware when held to the light.
China is transparent.
Be aware of fakes as well as reproductions by carrying with you when visiting antique shops the pocket book of marks as given below.
GODDEN – HANDBOOK OF BRITISH POTTERY AND PORCELAIN MARKS. Note:- There maybe a more up to date one now. ALSO -THE COUNTRY LIFE POCKET BOOK OF CHINA by G.BERNARD HUGHES.
And lastly if you have any questions please ask.