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PULL THE PINT AND MIND THE ULLAGE
from a Correspondent
The photograph shows the blue printed transfer decoration found on the handle
of a beer pump excavated in a late 19th early 20th century context, and
was obtained by rolling the handle along a computer scanner, thus giving
a 360 degree image of the pattern.
Although it may be readily recognised as Broseley pattern, the design as
we see it on flatware appears to be more than somewhat rearranged to cope
with the contours of this particular article! The central feature here,
if such there be, is the boat, which we would normally find above the centre
of the design. Above the boat we find the section which we should expect
to find in the centre and, at the bottom, the buildings and 'bridge' that
normally appear at the top! And, along the base of the handle is a strip
of border pattern. The only mark is the small impressed word 'Special',
which appears at the base of the handle.
Editorial Note: A number of questions come to mind. When did beer pumps
come into use i.e. is the context of the find accurate? The handle is probably
not made of earthenware, more likely to be porcelain or some form of stone
china. Who made such objects? Are there any features of the pattern as it
appears on the beer pump handle which may give a clue as to manufacturer?
Do you know of other blue printed patterns used on these objects?
The only distinctive feature, as I see it, is the outline of the boat. Bearing
in mind that we may be looking at a mirror image (correct me if I'm wrong!),
then the simple uncluttered shape of the boat is similar to that found on
Spode and Davenport, both of which factories were working in the late nineteenth
century. Whether either went in for this kind of production I do not know.
Another factory, and this would put the item definitely at the end of the
nineteenth century, is Doulton who, although I do not have a piece to hand,
I feel sure used the pattern. I hope that between us we can come up with
some more information about such items and I look forward to the result
of any imbibed research.
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