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Sunday, December 24, 2017

POINSETT, CHILE, AND AMERICAN DIPLOMACY ON TRANSFERWARE


Davenport (1794-1887) 19.75 inch by 15.75 inch platter "Poinsett's Defence (sic)," ca. 1835.

I started this blog to share with you many of the things I learn from the study of transferware.  I am still pleasantly surprised when I discover something new.*  There was a beautiful red printed platter on eBay that showed what appears to be a political rally in the center and a border filled with the the eagle and motto (E Pluribus Unum) of the seal of the United States.   The pattern is not found in any of my books nor is it known by any of my more knowledgeable transferware friends.  So, I did some research and some educated guessing.


Center of the platter.

Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851), who may be the man on the balcony holding the American flag, was the American Consul in Chile. He was appointed by President James Monroe in 1809.  Although Chile was still part of Spain and the United States was diplomatically neutral, Poinsett wrote a constitution for Chile that was modeled on the Constitution of the United States. The celebration of this new constitution, July 4, 1812 (note the significance of July 4), may be the theme of this pattern.  The words "Poinsett's Defence (sic)," which are printed under the center of the pattern, may refer to Poinsett's defense of Chile's desire for independence from Spain.  Although the American flag in the center pattern and the seal of the United States in the border indicate the strong ties of the United States and Chile, remember that the United States continued to remain neutral in Chile's fight for independence.  It is odd that the U.S. Consul, Poinsett, seemed to act on his own. Something I doubt.  From what I have read, it's hard to know where idealism and self interest begin and end.  Mainly on the part of the United States.

I will add that I never heard of Poinsett before, although I may have read that he gave his name to the ubiquitous plants that are popular at Christmas.  I also learned that he was one of the founders, among many other things in his interesting life, of the Smithsonian Institution.  I may be wrong about everything I have written.  Let me know what you think!


The Poinsettia is named for Joel Roberts Poinsett

*Transferware patterns continue to be an education.  I added this one to the Transferware Collectors Club Database of Patterns and Sources (nearly 15,000 patterns and 800 sources).  If you like learning new things as well as looking at beautiful items, join the TCC!

Sunday, December 3, 2017

WEDGWOOD MONTHS OF THE YEAR



All twelve Wedgwood Month tiles.  Click on the photo to make it larger.

I always plan to write something about Wedgwood's Month tiles and plates around the New Year, but I get too busy.  So, I decided to start early.

Helen J.A. Miles (fl. 1860-1893) designed several series of tiles for Wedgwood, one of which was "Months."  The tiles were so popular that Wedgwood eventually used the tile patterns on plates, along with borders from some of their well-known dinner services.  I have many variations of the 12 patterns to show you.  I am sure there are more, so please let me know if there is something I am missing.  (There are a lot of photos, so if you don't have time to see them all, please don't miss the beautiful fireplace surround at the bottom of this post.)  *Also, see a link to more photos and information.

JANUARY

"January" 6 inch tile


"January" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Mekado border


FEBRUARY

"February" 6 inch tile printed in red. The name of the month is missing.


"February" 6 inch tile. It is printed in brown and painted.

"February" 8 inch tile is a six inch pattern with the addition of an aesthetic border.


"February" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Mekado border


"February" 10 inch plate.  Notice that the tile shape is gone.  The pattern fits the plate and uses Wedgwood's Ferrara border.


MARCH

"March" 6 inch tile.

"March" 10 inch plate printed in brown with Wedgwood's Florentine border.


"March" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Florentine border.


APRIL

"April" 6 inch tile printed in blue.


"April" six inch tile.  Notice that the word "April" is in a different place than on the tile above.


"April" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Ivanhoe border.  Notice that the word "April" has moved again!


MAY

"May" 6 inch tile.

"May" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Florentine border

"May" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Mekado border.

JUNE

"June" 6 inch tile.

"June" 8 inch tile with the addition of an Aesthetic border.

"June" 10 inc plate with Wedgwood's Florentine border.

"June" octagonal plate with a floral border that is unknown to me.


JULY

"July" 6 inch tile.


"July" 6 inch tile printed in black.


"July" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Mekado border.  It looks as if the painting wasn't finished!



"July" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Mekado border.  Better painting than the last plate.


"July" 10 inch plate with a border that is unknown to me.  Notice that the name of the month is missing.


AUGUST

"August" 6 inch tile.


"August" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Mekado border.


"August" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Florentine border.


"August" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Ivanhoe border.


SEPTEMBER

"September" 6 inch tile.
"September" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Florentine border.

"September" 10 inch plate,  printed in green, with Wedgwood's Mekado border.


"September" 10 inch octagonal plate with a floral border.


"September" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Mekado border.  The colors are my personal favorite.  The marks on the back of this plate are seen below.


Marks that are found on the back of the "September" plate seen above.  Notice the unusual spelling of "Mekado". 



OCTOBER


"October" 6 inch tile


"October" 6 inch tile printed in red.



"October" 8 inch tile with an Aesthetic border.


"October" octagonal plate with a floral border.


"October" 10 inch plate without the tile shape. The border is Wedgwood's Ferrara border.


NOVEMBER

"November" 6 inch tile.


"November" 8 inch tile with the addition of an Aesthetic border.


DECEMBER

"December" 6 inch tile


"December" 8 inch tile.  It is a 6 inch pattern with the addition of an Aesthetic border.

"December" 10 inch plate with Wedgwood's Ferrara border. The word December is on the left by the girl's feet.


One more thing.  Below is a fireplace surrounded by Wedgwood Month tiles.  It is in the home of Dora Landey's daughter.  Dora is an antiques dealer who sells mainly transferware.  The tiles were a gift for her daughter's new house.


Fireplace with Wedgwood 6 inch Month tile surround (mainly).

I'll add that Wedgwood Month tiles and plates make excellent birthday gifts. Here are two for friends with February and July birthdays.


"February" and "July" 8 inch tiles.

*For more Months information and photos, see Gordon Hepworth's Old English (The Months). Tiles