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From Bulletin 127 January 2005.
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The picture above shows a saucer, 127 mm in diameter, bearing a pattern titled, somewhat quaintly perhaps, ORPHANS, in a printed cartouche very similar to that shown in True Blue, mark S 19. The mark also includes the initials W S & C, for William Smith and Co of the Stafford Pottery, Stockton on Tees (1822 - 55) [ A number of patterns by this manufacturer are known, but this one is, I think, a new one. Ed] The pattern shows two girls, neatly dressed, one with her arm around the other's waist, whilst the latter holds a hat in front of the former. They stand in a meadow with, behind them, a thatched stable and a small church. |
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The bowl above bears the title ARCHERS in a printed cartouche, as shown. It is part of a bowl and ewer set, a ewer in the same pattern being shown in Coysh I plate 129. In addition to the same printed cartouche, the ewer also bears the impressed mark of the Glamorgan Pottery, BAKER, BEVANS & IRWIN in a horseshoe shape around an impressed figure 7. [The Glamorgan Pottery traded from 1813 - 1838 and these pieces date to the later years. Ed.] The bowl is quite large with a rim diameter of 337 mm, base diameter of 159 mm, and a height of 114 mm. (The height of the ewer is given as 224 mm.) [In the case of the ewer, Coysh comments that the piece is poorly decorated with a rather blurred transfer, either badly engraved or from worn plates. After close scrutiny of the illustration, it seems to me that he is perhaps being a little harsh. The colour may be on the pale side but the pattern detail can be clearly seen, even in half tones, as, indeed, it can on the bowl shown here. Paler hues were the fashion in the late 1830's and 40's and the style of engraving and subject matter gave the effect that we see here. At all events, it seems that the deer in the scene are not going to stay to find out what the lady and gentleman archer in the foreground are planning to use for target practice! Ed] |
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Following the article on Gilead House, members might be interested in other views from the book mentioned as the source print, The Beauties of England and Wales, or, Original Delineations , Topographical, Historical and Descriptive, of Each County. By John Britton, F. S. A. Published 1807. The book is printed in several volumes, perhaps as many as twenty, with two or three counties being covered in each volume. I suspect that it was reprinted several times, as I have some volumes which are dated 1815. A list of the engravings in Vol 15 which covers Lancashire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire is given below. Some of the engravings are reproduced above and below. It is interesting to see that, at this early date, the engravings are predominantly line engravings. This is especially apparent in the depiction of skies and water, as in the views of Lancaster (above) and Liverpool (below). |
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Collegiate Church, Manchester. (Interior View). Lancaster. View from the S.E. Furness Abbey, Lancashire Ashton Hall, Lancashire Townley Hall, Lancashire The Exchange Buildings, Liverpool The Town Hall, N.E., Liverpool Allerton Hall, Lancashire The College (at Manchester) Lancashire Hulme Hall Lancashire Heaton House, Lancashire Gilead House, Lancashire Newby Bridge, Lancashire St. Mary’s Church, Leicester Ashby de-la-Zouch Castle, Leicestershire Donington Park, Leicestershire Oadby Village and Church, Leicestershire Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire Lincoln Cathedral, West Front Louth Steeple etc., Lincolnshire Boston Church, Lincolnshire Croyland Bridge, Lincolnshire Grantham Church etc., Lincolnshire Stamford Town, Lincolnshire Priory Church of St. Leonards, Stamford |
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