c.1818-25 Historical Dark Blue Plate in Musketeer Pattern by Rogers

Pottery : Antique : Flow Blue : English : Rogers & Son

 

Nice dark blue plate in the Musketeer pattern (Rogers) from about 1818-25 period with a wavy and gadroon rim after the style of silver dishes of the period (see notes below). And this plate also exhibits some distinctive and important attributes that place it among the higher quality Staffordshire type wares produced during the earliest phase of the historical dark blue tradition. Of course, it is made of the earlier pearlware paste and not the later and heavier ironstone varieties that were common after 1840.

Docs Antiques is pleased to offer this plate to the blue Staffordshire collector or specialty dealer. It is comparatively thin and has a finely molded and gadroon wavy rim that mimics the bead and reel motif of more expensive silver vessels of the early 1800s. The full rim outline on this plate is actually a quatrefoil when it is reduced to its most basic elements. Furthermore, each rim indent has a raised rib or divide that separates the marly into sections just like some silver forms of the late 1700s and early 1800s (one photo below shows these divides by using a strong reflection of light) .

The skill and workmanship readily distinguish it from many plates made just 15 to 25 years later as more cheaply produced historical dark blue patterns saturated the British market. The transfer pattern's outermost edge on this plate, for instance, perfectly matches the molded and wavy inner rim without any gaps. Such workmanship is not carefully executed on many cheaper dark blue transfer wares and the patterns don't fit their ceramic blanks so well. Also, the full transfer was applied in a single application and there are no seams or incongruous match lines visible anywhere. All of this required a very skillful application of the transfer so that all the wavy edges matched perfectly without the slightest wandering or variance. In contrast, many other 1820s and 1830s historical dark blue plates often display seams and gaps between the rim, well, shoulder or center where separate transfer sections were supposed to abut or overlap. Finally, this plate also displays many subtle shades of blue further telling us that the master copper plate from which this pattern was pulled was itself carefully and laboriously engraving. Subsequent methods known as "flow/flown/flowed blue" produced greatly inferior detail for a less discriminating public that sought more cheaply made wares in the dark blue style at any cost.

The firm of John Rogers and Son is the only attributed potter that produced the Musketeer pattern (see Coysh and Henrywood 1982:255). In fact, I also have a plate in this same pattern that is impressed with the Rogers mark. The plate listed here, however, is impressed with a “W” which is really only used by one pottery between 1810 to 1830 period (Cushion 1983; Godden 1964, etc.). It was the firm of Thomas Wolfe and son. In fact, Thomas Wolfe senior was one of the early pioneers of underglaze blue transfer printing with his work beginning in 1784 at his Church Street pottery (Stoke). Also, he was reportedly the first potter to employ steam power in the manufacturing of pottery in about 1793 (Godden 1964:681). His son, Thomas Jr., took over the firm in 1811 and ran it until it was closed in 1818. Consequently, this plate may be an example of a plate blank made by Wolfe but subsequently bought by Rogers after the 1818 closure and then decorated with the Musketeer pattern between about 1818 and 1820. If any Ruby Lane patron has an alternative explanation, do kindly drop me an e-mail - thanks.

The "Three Musketeers" or simply "Musketeer" pattern (see Coysh and Henrywood 1982:255) consists of a composite of several prints taken from Oriental Scenery by Thomas Daniell (1749-1840). Oriental Scenery is a publication that contained illustrations from the Daniell brothers travels in India. It was a six volume set published by Thomas and his brother William Daniell between 1795 and 1808. Thomas was solely responsible for the prints in the first two volumes and several Staffordshire potteries and others drew upon various prints from these works for other dark blue transfer printed subjects on pottery (e.g., John Rogers & Sons, John & Richard Riley, Herculaneum Pottery, Bevington & Co.). Coysh and Henrywood (1982:255) specifically note that the main building in the Musketeer pattern is a reverse copy of one from Daniell's "View in the Fort, Madura" (Volume II, 14), but it has also been given a dome taken from "The Mausoleum of Mucdoom Shah Dowlut, at Moneah, on the River Soane". The three figures are a reverse of figures from the "Eastern Gate of Jummah Musjid at Delhi" and the background on this pattern is based on the "View in the Fort of Tritchinopoly". This same background also occurs on a blue transfer pattern from the Herculaneum Pottery. This is quite an list of connections given for a single transfer pattern.

SIZE & CONDITION: The diameter of the plate is 7 5/8 inches and it stands by 1 inch tall and has a 4 1/8 inch diameter foot ring that exhibits blue glaze puddling. The plate is in very good condition with no hairlines, cracks, restorations or repairs and only one small chip on its back side that is not visible from the front. The plate does have a very minor production flaw consisting of a 1/2 inch clay fissure that happened when the plate was being made before firing in the kiln. The fissure was subsequently glazed-over. It is not noticeable except from the back of the plate (see photo below with pencil pointing to it). Wear from use is very minimal with just a few beads worn on the rim and some minor use scratches on the face of the plate that are not readily apparent unless viewed under strong light up close. And when all is considered -- this is a very nice example of a high quality dark blue transfer and molded pearlware plate that displays exceptionally well. If the buyer is not completely pleased, then simply return the plate using my return policy privileges for a refund (see details).

US MAINLAND SHIPPING: Insured USPS Priority shipping to a secure address within the US mainland is $10.30 for this plate. No handling or packing fees are charged and the plate will be double boxed for maximum safety. Shipping costs beyond the mainland US will be determined once your address details are provided and again only include actual shipping costs (see my Ruby Lane shipping policy for more details or drop me an e-mail for a quote). I will be happy to combine items from multiple purchases at just the cost of the additional insurance on any second item when it is safe to do so and as long as they are shipped to a secure address. Thanks for stopping by and looking!!

NOTE: I am a verified PayPal member and therefore also accept payment by credit card after you submit a purchase order (see Terms of Sale for additional information). Once submitted, a PayPal icon will appear at the bottom of the Ruby Lane listing and then you may proceed from there if you wish to use a credit card. Or you can also ask me to send you a PayPal invoice if you prefer that approach, instead.

RETURN POLICY: Satisfaction and peace of mind are guaranteed by Docs Antiques for this item. If you are not happy with it for any reason other than damage that occurred during shipping, then you have the option to send the item back in a timely manner so long as it is in the same condition as listed. All items to US addresses are fully insured and so if the item was damaged in the mail, then file an insurance claim and do not ship it back since that would voids the insurance. Please refer to my return policy for full details or contact me for help -- thanks.

NOTE: I am a verified PayPal member and therefore also accept payment by credit card after you submit a purchase order (see Terms of Sale for additional information). Once submitted, a PayPal icon will appear at the bottom of the Ruby Lane listing and then you may proceed from there if you wish to use a credit card. Or you can also ask me to send you a PayPal invoice if you prefer that approach, instead.

OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONS: We accept checks draw on mainland US Banks (checks must have US 9 digit routing code; item ships after check fully clears), USPS money orders, or contact us with your verified address for other options, if available. Also, see our TERMS OF SALE for more details. Thanks for stopping by and do visit again when you have the time.

Item ID: RL98.a130/158

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Shipping on any second item from Docs Antiques in the same box (US mainland address) is added for just the cost of additional insurance!