Transferware Designs & Styles

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 The first transferware designs of the late 18th and very early 19th centuries were copied from hand painted blue and white Chinese export porcelains depicting scenes and motifs of an Oriental nature, such as the Blue Willow pattern.   Transferware designs were later copied from manuscripts and prints.

Early Staffordshire Blue Willow Platter

Around 1820, as tastes changed, the subject matter on transfer ware was anglicized and began showing bucolic and pastoral English scenes of country life.  Cattle and sheep were popular themes as were castles and Abbey ruins.  Some depicted women in period clothing with parasols and suitors at their side in gardens or gazebos.  This is often referred to as Romantic style transferware.

circa 1825-30 Romantic Platter entitled Scroll

Spode Ruins

British Views & Historical scenes soon followed

Circa 182 Hicks & Meigh drainer Pattern, British Views

Around 1825, open botanical patterns were introduced by many factories such as this large, circa 1830 handled serving tray in light purple.

After the War of 1812, to further entice the American market, profit minded British potters began exporting transferware with scenes of American patriots and urban progress to the patriotic, eager buyers of America.

Washington at a tomb with scroll in hand by Enoch Wood

After 1828, technology allowed potters to produce two and three color transfer wares.  This Etruscan Festoon plate by Ridgway is an example which is very highly sought by collectors.  Yellow is the rarest color of transferware,  and the intricacy in transfer placement is unsurpassed.

W R Ridgway Etruscan Festoon Two Color Transfer Plate

Between 1830-40 flow blue was introduced by adding ammonia to the dye which caused the ink to run while in the kiln.

New Wharf pottery Platter

The Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century (1870-1900), a backlash to formal Victorian times, influenced designs of Asian styled scenes with asymmetric, bold and geometric patterns.

Wedgwood Platter-Pattern Beatrice circa 1880-1890

I'll discuss each of these styles in further detail on other posts.  Some I've done already and links are provided above.

I hope you all have a great weekend...the weather here is gorgeous.
 

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Aristotle
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