TRANSFERWARE FLORAL PATTERNS

I love transferware floral patterns, and have written about them before (see links to blog posts below). The Transferware Collectors Club Pattern and Source Print Database illustrates more than one thousand patterns in the Floral and Botanical Category. The category is divided into subcategories; All over sheet pattern, Border only, Botanical, Oriental Influence, Floral Natural, Floral Stylized, Foliage, and Fruit. I am going to show you patterns from a few of the sub-categories; Botanical, Floral Natural, and Floral Stylized.

The Botanical sub-category shows flowers that are scientifically correct. Wedgwood, for example, made a Botanical series where many of the patterns were copied from William Curtis' "The Botanical Magazine." Because of its popularity, the pattern was made throughout the 19th century with a variety of borders, patterns, and colors.

Wedgwood Botanical 8 inch plate, ca. 1815.

Wedgwood Botanical 9.75 inch plate, ca. 1880

Minton made a series, "Plant," that featured botanical centers. Many of these botanical patterns were also copied from "The Botanical Magazine" by William Curtis. It has, like the Wedgwood series, many different center patterns. Minton produced another pattern, "Trellis & Plants," that also copied botanical prints.

Minton "Plant" series 18.5 inch platter

Minton "Plant" series 9.5 inch plate

Minton "Trellis & Plants" 11.5 inch plate

The patterns in the Floral Natural sub-category are not copied from a scientific source, but the plants are recognizable. For example, Brameld (1806-1842) made a pattern illustrating sweet peas that are easily known (if you know your flowers) as sweet peas. They are an artist's rendering of the flowers rather than copied from a scientific source.

Brameld Sweet Peas pattern octagonal soup plate, ca. 1820

The lovely cabbage rose pattern below is actually in the TCC's Children's Subjects/Floral sub-category, but it could easily be in the Floral and Botanical/Floral Natural sub-category.

Child's 6.25 inch plate with a molded and painted border featuring cabbage roses

Here are more patterns in the Floral Natural sub-category. Do you recognize any of the flowers (or fruit)?

Ralph & James Clews (1814-1834) "Coronation" 10 inch plate

John Meir (1812-1836) "Flora Pattern" 10 inch plate

John Ridgway (1830-1841) "Shiraz" pattern 10.25 inch soup plate

The Floral Stylized sub-category shows flower patterns that sometimes look like abstract paintings.

Minton sheet pattern, ca. 1810

J & M P Bell & Co. (1842-1928) "Alhambra" Plate

William T. Copeland (& Sons) 1847-1970 "Aquatic" pattern

So far, I have shown you flat pieces; plates and platters. Here are a few shaped items printed with floral patterns. What sub-categories do you think the patterns belong in?