 |
| Inappropriate Patterns for Children |
I wrote an article for the
Transferware Collectors Club Bulletin in 2012 titled
Inappropriate Patterns For Children. I decided to redo the article for my blog as the topic is such a favorite of mine. I am the editor of Children's Subjects for the TCC Pattern and Source Print Database, so I see a lot of 19th century children's patterns. Many are sweet and instructive, but some are horrific!
Children haven’t changed in the past two hundred years, but
the concept of childhood and what is appropriate for children has changed. Nineteenth century British children’s mugs
and plates were created as inexpensive gifts or rewards to teach religion and
the alphabet as well as to delight with pictures of animals and children’s
activities. However, some of the
patterns found on this pottery are frightening!
Seal Hunt, which was
made by Thomas Elsmore & Son (1872-1887), illustrates a method of seal hunting. The molded alphabet border does aid in
learning the alphabet, but the clubbing of seals would be
deemed an inappropriate gift for today's child.
 |
| Thomas Elsmore & Son (1872-1887) Seal Hunting 7 inch child's Plate |
The next pattern, The Romish Bishop
Bonner, which was made by Powell & Bishop (1876-1878), is an odd choice for a child even though it
was intended to teach a religious history lesson. Perhaps this pattern was a reward for doing
well in Sunday School. Substitute the word
Catholic for Romish, as the history lesson is about Bishop Edmund Bonner
(c.1500 to 1569) who served during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary
I (aka Bloody Mary). Actually, Bonner was known as Bloody Bonner. He was
able to survive quite awhile during the enormous upheaval of the English
Reformation, as he changed his ideas about religion (Catholic, Protestant,
Catholic) to that of the reigning monarch. During the time of Queen Mary, who
reinstated Roman Catholicism, he burned many Protestants, including Thomas
Tomkins. The description of Tomkins martyrdom is quite gruesome, but, as stated
on the plate, he withstood it well. The entire text reads: "The Romish
Bishop Bonner Burning Tomkins hands before his Martyrdom. He was burned in
Smithfield Market March 16th 1555. He suffered with admirable patience and
constancy." Bonner was imprisoned for refusing to take the Oath of
Supremacy at the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I (another Protestant). He
died in prison in 1569. This is an
excellent history lesson but a rather morbid topic for children. Note the
source print for the pattern, which is a woodcut from John Foxe’s
Book of Martyrs, ca. 1570.
 |
| Powell & Bishop (1876-1878) The Romish Bishop Bonner 6.25 inch child's Plate |
 |
| Source print for The Romish Bishop Bonner Child's Plate, ca. 1570 |
Although
not frightening, the pattern is inappropriate humor (not even vaguely humorous today). The
title, Flow Thou Regal Purple Stream, refers to the bloody nose of the boy who
is second on the left. One wonders why
this particular scene was considered an interesting pattern for a child’s plate. Were the boys heroes for fighting? Was a bloody nose a badge of honor? Fighting and bloody noses
(from fighting) are certainly frowned upon in the 21st century!
 |
| Flow thou regal purple stream child's 8 inch plate, ca. 1830 |
Early Sorrow is a sad
reminder of the familiarity that the 19th century child had with
death. When mothers died regularly in
childbirth and siblings succumbed often to disease, one does wonder why a child
needed to be reminded of the prevalence of death. However, the death of a pet, in this case a
pet bird, is the same today as it was in the 19th century; an inoculation against a greater loss. Still, this pattern would not be eagerly sought
as a gift for today's child.
 |
| Early Sorrow child's plate/Notice the dead bird near the cage |
This
gift for a good and well-loved child is a mug with the inscription, Present For My
Dear Boy. I doubt, however, the choice of a fox running
off with a goose clamped in its mouth is something conducive to milk
drinking.
 |
| Present For My Dear Boy child's 2 inch by 2 inch mug, ca, 1830 |
Although
the poem titled My Grandmother has good
intentions, it has the unfortunate mention and illustration of a dead dog! The
poem, which was written by William Upton,
was copied from a picture sheet for children published by William
Darton, Jr. in London in 1813. The poem
reads: “Who took me in a coach to ride/Because I griev’d when Puggy died/And
bought me Sugarplums beside/My Grandmother.”
The grandmother is doing her best to cheer up her granddaughter, but I
doubt the pattern would be given to a granddaughter today.
 |
| John Rogers & Son My Grandmother plate, ca. 1830 |
As
mentioned, children’s patterns were often meant to teach the alphabet. This plate shows a large
and attractive letter “D”. However,
instead of illustrating the letter with a cute dog or dear dolly, it is matched with a drunkard and the rhyme “D
Was a Drunk-ard (notice how even the word is falling down)/And had a red
face."
 |
| D Was A Drunk-Ard And had a red face 6.62 inch child's alphabet plate |
The plate below illustrates a scene from the very popular anti-slavery book Uncle
Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, which was published in 1852. Many scenes from the book were used on
children’s plates, but none are as violent as the pattern seen here: “Pay Away Till He Gives Up: Give It Him: Give
it Him! Uncle Tom Whipped To
Death.” The pattern is frightening and a
bit sordid.
 |
| Child's 8.5 inch plate Uncle Tom Whipped To Death |
I never thought of the violence inherent in the nursery rhyme Three Blind Mice. I sing it to my grandchildren. Visually, the plate below reminds me of the shower scene from Hitchcock's Psycho. I would never give it to them as a gift. Now I'll think about the words too!
 |
| Three Blind Mice 7.5 inch child's plate |
As a cat lover, perhaps I am being too sensitive to the use of the words wicked and kill in the plate below. My granddaughter didn't like these words either.
 |
| Oh! beat her, kill her, wicked Puss 7.25 inch child's plate, ca. 1820 |
I hope you will send along a few of your inappropriate patterns for
children. My blog is a fine repository for these patterns, but perhaps not
the hands of our little ones.
