Mulberry Transfer Ware Ironstone 8 1/2" Plate W. Adams & Sons Pottery Staffordshire Grecian Font Pattern
Description: Antique mulberry transfer ware or transferware plate made by the W. Adams and Sons Pottery of Tunstall of Stoke-on-Trent. It is in the Ironstone Grecian Font pattern. The plate has a central scene showing a fountain having an angel trumpeting with water jets in the center and all around. The fountain is situated in a garden and has a peacock perched ion its edge. There is a Gazebo and a house in the background. there is also trees and a water body with a boat floating. there is also what looks like a man and a woman in the image. The scalloped edge of the plate has a nice repeating vignettes depicting the image of a lighthouse with a body of water having a ship floating and people looking from the shore. There are mountains and a canoe with people coming to shore. The vignettes are surrounded with floral and foliate designs with conch shells. The plate is marked with an impressed as well as a transfer maker's mark. The WA&S mark dates the plate from between 1819-1864. Please carefully review the photos as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: Early to mid 19th Century.
Origin: Tunstall, Staffordshire, England.
Size: Measures 8 1/2" in diameter, 7/8" in height and weighs about 9 1/2 ounces.
Maker: W. Adams & Sons Pottery (operated in the period 1819 through 1864).
Marks: Transfer in mulberry under glaze showing the name of the pattern as "Grecian Font" with the letters WA&S under it and an impressed ADAMS with a shape above it, which we are not certain of, in the center of the plate on the back. Please see last photo for details.
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: Very nice pattern by a well known pottery from the Stoke-on-Trent area.
Condition: Plate is in excellent condition with no cracks, hairlines, discoloration, or repairs. It has general crazing to the glaze. It has three small spots in blue coloring, which look like the piece was fired too close to a piece that had blue coloring and maybe some of the blue transfered to this plate. It is on the surface and appears to be under glaze. It also has three spots on the back with missing glaze, where the plate rested on three small triangular stands during the firing. All of these issues are original to the making of the plate and are common with this type of Ironstone ware made in Staffordshire in the mid 19th century. Finally, the plate has some of the usual defects you would expect in Staffordshire transferware from the era such as pops, slubs, and areas where the transfer did not cover entirely. This particular plate has very few of those issues and is a great specimen. Please see photos to appreciate the beauty and condition of this piece.
In Closing: Just a very nice piece with bold and fresh colors in great condition after being around for over 150 years. This would make a great addition to your collection of Staffordshire pottery.
