Early Staffordshire Pottery Figures are earthenware figures made in England, mainly in the county of Staffordshire, but also in other counties and in Scotland up until the time of Queen Victoria. Another term used to describe ‘early’ figures is ‘Pre-Victorian’.
What is English Pearlware?
Pearlware, first introduced by Josiah Wedgwood in 1779, is an earthenware ceramic body with a slightly bluish white lead glaze. Other historical names for this ware are Pearl White and China Glaze.
How can you tell Pearlware?
Pearlware is one of the earlier types of whiteware that we identify on nineteenth century sites. It has an off-white body and a glaze with a distinctive bluish tint, which gives the pieces a whiter appearance. The faint colour in the glaze is most evident in places where it pools, such as a footring or a brink.
How do you identify Staffordshire figures?
Your checklist for genuine antique Staffordshire dogs…
- Press moulded body with defined modelling and a very small firing hole in the base.
- Painted decoration: detailed with a face full of character and slight differences between the pair.
- The back may be painted.
- Soft gilding showing evidence of age.
What was creamware used for?
It served as an inexpensive substitute for the soft-paste porcelains being developed by contemporary English manufactories, initially in competition with Chinese export porcelains. It was often made in the same fashionable and refined styles as porcelain.
When was Pearlware invented?
1779
Traditionally, Josiah Wedgwood has been credited with· inventing “pearlware” in 1779. This date was derived from a series of letters from Wedgwood to his partner Thomas Bentley discussing the development of “pearlware” (Finer and Savage 1965: 231, 236, 237).
What is English porcelain?
The European name, porcelain in English, comes from the old Italian porcellana (cowrie shell) because of its resemblance to the surface of the shell. Porcelain is also referred to as china or fine china in some English-speaking countries, as it was first seen in imports from China during the 17th century.
How do you identify creamware?
Creamware is earthenware pottery made from a combination of white clay and calcined flint. It is marked by a distinct cream color and a pale lead glaze.
What are whiteware products?
Definition of whiteware
: a class of ceramic products that include porcelain, china, pottery, earthenware, stoneware, and vitreous tile, are usually but not necessarily white, and consist typically of clays, feldspar, potter’s flint, and whiting.
How do I know if my figurines are valuable?
So, the better the condition, the greater the value. Beyond that, the rarity, age and quality of a figurine will also work together to determine its value. Chips, cracks, faded or rubbed away paint, and crazing can all lower the value of any ceramics, including figurines.
Are Staffordshire plates worth anything?
A normal plate like this, which just has a normal scene which is very decorative, would be worth around $100, $150, and collectors like them. And American scenes are much more valuable. Usually, they would start at around $200 depending on the scene and the rarity, and they would go up to about $500, $600.
What do numbers mean on bottom of pottery?
There are marks that indicate a specific mold called a mold number. These numbers often look like dates such as 1953 or 1789. It is rare that a piece of pottery will have a date stamped or embossed into its base. If a number looks like a date or a year, it is most likely a mold number.
When did Wedgwood stop making Jasperware?
Dipping was first used in 1777, Wedgwood writing that “the Cobalt @ 36s. per lb, which being too dear to mix with the clay of the whole grounds”. By 1829 production in jasper had virtually ceased, but in 1844 production resumed making dipped wares. Solid jasper was not manufactured again until 1860.
Is stoneware a pottery?
Stoneware is dense pottery fired at high temperatures to make it resistant to liquids, or non-porous. It is made from clay, but is more durable than other kinds of pottery and earthenware. Stoneware gets its name from its stone-like qualities.
What is earthenware clay?
earthenware, pottery that has not been fired to the point of vitrification and is thus slightly porous and coarser than stoneware and porcelain. The body can be covered completely or decorated with slip (a liquid clay mixture applied before firing), or it can be glazed.
What is creamware pottery?
1. Creamware is a type of fine earthenware with a cream-coloured body produced in England and Europe during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Various versions of creamware were developed by potters in the mid-eighteenth century.
What is the best porcelain in the world?
Limoges porcelain – the gold standard of porcelain – is one of the best and most sought-after fine chinas that Europe has to offer. Bright white, delicate, transparent, and yet extremely robust, this porcelain offers both practicality and rich porcelain art.
How do I know if my porcelain is antique?
One way to check if unmarked pottery is antique or faux is by checking the bottom of the piece. The bottom has an unglazed area, revealing the type of clay used on the piece. Clay used to make antique pieces is old and dusty compared to the one used on faux pieces.
Which is better ceramic or porcelain?
Durability: The density of porcelain tile makes it more durable than ceramic tile while being less subject to wear and tear. This makes it more suitable for commercial use as well as in the home. Water Resistance: Porcelain tile is almost impervious to water compared to ceramic tile.
Who made creamware?
Staffordshire potters
Creamware is a cream colored English earthenware with a transparent lead glaze, that typically dates from the second half of the 18th century. It was originally developed by Staffordshire potters, who were experimenting to find a substitute for Chinese porcelain.
How do you identify bitossi?
The unglazed portion of authentic Bitossi pottery is rough and concave. No ifs ands or buts about it. If it is not rough, it is certainly fake. If it is flat, it is certainly fake.