What is historical pottery?

Historical pottery includes ceramic plates, jugs, tiles and figurines that record specific events, places or notable people from past centuries. These pieces serve as tangible links to historical moments, utilising transfer printing, hand painting and various glaze techniques to convey their subjects.

How were transferware plates made?

Makers engraved copper plates with detailed designs, inked them, and transferred the impression onto paper before pressing it onto the ceramic surface. This method produced uniform blue and white scenes depicting landscapes, historical buildings and commemorative views.

What do Staffordshire figures depict?

Staffordshire figures predominantly portray military leaders, royalty, political figures and historical personalities from the nineteenth century. Potters modelled these ceramic pieces to celebrate contemporary public figures, often labelling the bases with the subject's name.

How do I identify Delft tiles?

Dutch Delft tiles are recognised by their tin-glazed white ceramic surfaces decorated with hand-painted motifs in blue or polychrome. They typically date to the seventeenth century and feature distinct pictorial subjects like animals, landscapes or biblical scenes.