APRIL TRANSFERWARE PATTERNS

Since it's the middle of May, it's past the time to write this post about April transferware patterns.  I suppose I'd better get started on May too!

As I have said before, patterns with months make nice birthday presents.  My children have more than one.

I'll start with a Wedgwood plate printed with the April tile pattern.  Remember that the month patterns were originally made for tiles, but proved so popular that Wedgwood adapted them for plates.  Wedgwood paired the tiles with borders already in use.  Here, the "Ivanhoe" border was used.  Not surprisingly, the border is mainly found with centers that depict the Sir Walter Scott story of "Ivanhoe." 

Wedgwood (1759-2005) Month plate "April," ca. 1880.  The April center is paired with Wedgwood's Ivanhoe border.

I added a photo of an "Ivanhoe" plate to make my text clearer. 

Wedgwood (1759-2005) soup plate from the "Ivanhoe" series designed by Thomas Allen, ca. 1882.  The border was popular, so Wedgwood used it with their month tiles too.

Below is an April pattern that is part of a series known as "Seasons."  The word "April" is found in the circular cartouche in the bottom of the center of the pattern.  Here, the month of April is illustrated by a man who is hawking, not the usual rainy scene with an umbrella.

William Adams IV & Sons (1829-1861) 10.62 inch plate printed in the "April" pattern from the Seasons series.

Many of the April patterns were made for children.  They were popular gifts in the 19th century and continue popular today.

Child's plate printed with a figure representing "April."  It looks as if he is doing the Spring pruning.

Child's 7.25 inch "April" plate by an unknown maker. Notice that is is nearly the same as the pattern below.

Scott (1800-1897) "April" 6.5 inch plate.  Although the pattern looks the same as the pattern on the plate above, this one has the sign of the zodiac for April behind the girl.  The head of Taurus, the bull, is next to the girl's left arm, and its lower body and tail are near her right arm. 

"April" child's plate showing two children with the ubiquitous April umbrella.

Let me know if you have any April transferware patterns.