HAPPY JULY FOURTH!

Ralph & James Clews (1814-1834) platter Peace and Plenty, ca, 1825

I wrote about July 4 (Independence Day) last year.  My grandparents called it Declaration Day.  I titled the post Peace and Plenty, but I really wanted to write about my maternal grandfather, Sam Berenson, who told me why he loved America.

Today I am going to show you some transferware patterns that honored some of the heroes of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.   Odd that this pottery was made in British factories shortly after British defeat!  I have to assume you all know about the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) and the War of 1812 (1812-1815).  If not, click on the highlighted words that will take you to Wikipedia.

There are lots of patterns that show George Washington and the Marquis de La Fayette (also spelled Lafayette).  Sometimes both spellings in the same article!

John Harrison (1781-1816) 9.75 inch plate Washington President plus the seal of the United States/An early transferware plate.

Ralph & James Clews (1814-1834) 7.75 inch pitcher Welcome La Fayette The Nation's Guest And Our Country's Glory, ca. 1825

Enoch Wood & Sons (1818-1846) saucer, Washington Standing at His Tomb, Scroll in Hand/An allegorical pattern about which I haven't a clue!

Enoch Wood & Sons (1818-1846) 6.5 inch plate La Fayette and Washington.

Ralph Stevenson & Williams (1825-1827) 10.5 inch plate Welcome La Fayette and Washington and La Fayette/a commemorative made for La Fayette's visit to the United States in 1824

In 1824, La Fayette came to the United States to be honored as "Our Nations Guest." Below are two  patterns that commemorated his visit. 

Ralph & James Clews (1814-1834) 17 inch platter Landing of Gen. La Fayette at Castle Garden New York 16 August 1824, ca. 1824

Enoch Wood & Sons (1818-1846) 19 inch platter La Fayette at Washington's Tomb, ca. 1825/Probably allegorical rather than actual

Some patterns commemorated the War of 1812.

Pitcher, 6 inches by an unknown maker/Success to the United States of America 1812/Remember that the British lost this war, yet British factories made this commemorative jug for the American Market!  

Enoch Wood & Sons (1818-1846) jug with War of 1812 Army heroes (above) on one side and Naval heroes on the other

Enoch Wood & Sons (1818-1846) jug with War of 1812 with Naval heroes (above) on one side and Army heroes on the other

After the wars were won (or lost), it was "business as usual" in the British potteries. If you have enjoyed looking at these American historical patterns, take a look at Patriotic America,  a website that features patterns that celebrate early America. It was created by the Winterthur Museum, Historic New England and the Transferware Collectors Club.