Plate
This polychrome transfer-printed earthenware plate made by the Staffordshire firm of Mellor, Venables & Co. features the coat-of-arms of the state of Delaware with the arms of Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia along the border. The central Delaware arms consists of a shield flanked by a sailor and hunter. The design belongs to a series of eight designs produced for the United States export market displaying the arms of Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia individually in the center. Designs from the series are found in either polychrome or monochrome. To create a polychrome effect a design was first printed in a single color and then filled in with multi-colored highlights. The present plate, for example, was printed in brown and then filled in with pink, yellow and red. Monochrome pieces typically feature intentionally blurred or "flown" prints. The series also features two different borders. The standard border for polychrome pieces includes the arms of the eight states in varying combinations and quantities such as the present plate with a border of five arms. The standard border for monochrome pieces consists of a thin flown circle around the rim. Plates from the series are fourteen-sided with paneled rims. Holloware table forms such as teapots have paneled sides as well. States' arms were a popular way for Staffordshire potters to cater the American export market. Additional examples in the American Wing's collection include two plates, 14.102.34 and 14.102.156, by Thomas Mayer (ca. 1826–1838). Refer to the Dictionary for a definition of the term "transfer printing" and for information about Mellor and Mayer.
Artwork Details
- Title: Plate
- Maker: Mellor, Venables & Co. (active ca. 1834–51)
- Date: ca. 1834–ca. 1851
- Geography: Made in Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, England
- Culture: British (American market)
- Medium: Earthenware, transfer-printed
- Dimensions: Diam. 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm)
- Credit Line: Bequest of Mary Mandeville Johnston, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. S. Johnston, 1914
- Object Number: 14.102.10
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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Mellor, Venables & Co. (active ca. 1834–51)
ca. 1840–ca. 1845
Mellor, Venables & Co. (active ca. 1834–51)
ca. 1840–ca. 1845
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1824–34
Job & John Jackson (active 1831–35)
ca. 1831–ca. 1835
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1815–ca. 1834
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