Horatio Colony amassed a fine collection of over 120 transfer ware platters, pitchers and plates.  The collection is predominantly in the traditional cobalt blue and white color scheme, however, there are also some examples of sepia (brown & white) and green and white.
                     
         

'Erford'  by James Edwards c1842-1851

 ‘Jeddo’ by William Adams & Sons c1838-1864

W.T.Copeland c1891-1930

            
         

The collection also includes a complete polychrome transfer ware dining set of 276 pieces, in a pattern (seen left) called ‘Pekin’, produced by B & H c.1870.

           
         

‘Transfer ware’ refers to ceramics (mostly dinnerware) which have been decorated by a method of transferring a design from an etched copper plate. This was achieved by first printing the etched design onto a special tissue paper with ceramic ink.  The printed tissue paper was placed on the ceramic piece, then removed leaving the design on the surface. The piece was then glazed and fired.

The English invention of transfer design in the 18th century coincided with the development of pottery that could rival the coveted Oriental porcelain.   Referred to as white wares, semi-porcelains, Stone China, and Ironstone, the English  version proved to be more durable but was opaque, rather than transparent like porcelain. 
 

            
         

European  love of the Oriental aesthetic was often found in the design themes chosen by English manufacturers. Oriental scenes including tea houses, pagodas and images of people in traditional Oriental dress were very popular. 

'Zebra' by Johns Rogers & Son c 1814-1836

            
          Eventually in the 19th century, design themes expanded to include pastoral scenes of the English country side.

'Wild Rose' c 1830

           
         

After the American market developed, English potteries found a niche in producing transfer ware depicting scenes from American history.

Seen left are souvenirs of the centennial of Lewis & Clark's expedition, Portland, Oregon, made in Staffordshire, England in 1905

            
         

Oddly enough, scenes from the American Revolution were capitalized on by the English potteries.  Of course, commemorative transfer ware designs of British Isle history were popular in England also. 

           
The pitcher seen above depicts the entrance to the London and Manchester railroad
         

Transfer ware designs were easy to mass produce, which drove the cost down.  For the first time, the working class could afford beautiful dinnerware for their homes.  And thanks to the Industrial Revolution, the 19th century saw an expanding Victorian middle class with more dispensable income to purchase lower priced luxury items such as transfer ware.

           
         

Perhaps the most famous transfer ware pattern was developed in the late 18th century by Thomas Minton of the Caughley Factory in Shropshire, England.  His Blue Willow pattern combined Oriental images into a romantic scene that has been manufactured for over 220 years and is still being produced today.

           
          Although many transfer ware pieces were devoid of maker’s marks, some pottery factories printed their initials or names in transfer on the back of the ceramics. Occasionally these maker’s marks included the pattern name, date and small images or borders framing the identification marks. (See below for the marks of Albion, Pekin and York)            
         

           
         

Transfer ware has weathered changes in fashion and still remains popular today. English potteries continue to produce ceramics decorated with transfer designs made from the original etched copper plates.

Throughout the 20th century, these potteries produced exclusive orders of commemorative pieces for American businesses and institutions. Mr. Colony’s collection includes sets of commemorative plates from Harvard, Philips Exeter Academy, plus two sets of Currier lithographs reproduced on dining plates.

To view a slide show of more platters from the collection, and larger views of the ones shown above click here.


Bibliography:
Blue and White Transfer Ware 1780-1840, A.W. Coysh, Douglas David & Charles, Ltd., Vancouver, BC, 1974.
Flow Blue, Jeffrey B. Snyder, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Pennsylvania, 1999.
Pottery, Brenda Gilchrist, General Editor; complied for the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, The Smithsonian Institution, 1981.

Web Sites:
www.fob.org.uk/
www.flowblue.org
www.transcollectorsclub.org
 

            
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