Cobalt Blue Pottery

15 Sep, 2006 in art pottery by admin

Cobalt Blue Pottery

Antique Lamps – A Bat Printed Staffordshire Lamp

The invention of transfer printing on porcelain and pottery was, without doubt, one of the most important innovations in the development of the ceramic industry.

The honor of this development goes to the English engraver, Robert Hancock, born in Birmingham (1730-1817). We first meet Robert, recorded as a copper plate engraver at York House, at Battersea’s enamel works in London. Here, beautiful little copper boxes were made for the English 18th century luxury market and quite costly objects of vertu, the so-called bijouterie, scent bottles, little snuff boxes and practical wares, such as boxes to contain sewing implements, toothpicks, trays to hold pens, canisters for tea and sugar and even candlesticks, designed to imitated expensive silver pieces.

In 1756 the Battersea factory closed and we next find Robert at the Worcester porcelain factory in the same year. Robert Hancock had obviously taken his knowledge and expertise to the factory management, under the direction of Dr John Wall.

The management was highly impressed with the idea of this rapid decoration technique! Since the opening of the factory in 1751, porcelain painting had been a laborious and expensive process, undertaken by painters with coloured powdered enamels, mixed with lavender oil and brushes.

Robert was able to teach his printing skills and the process was soon mastered with the first, famous, copper plate engraved, black transfer print being produced in 1757. The subject being Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, ally and hero of the seven years war.

Transfer printing as developed at Battersea, began with the unique skill of the copper plate engraver, who deeply engraved, with a fine sharp steel, the desired design. The design was engraved in reverse!, allowing the final print to appear “right way around”. Pigment was then added, often mixed with oil and heated to allow the colour to run deeper into the copper plate engravings, the excess ink then wiped away with a palette knife. The copper plate, after being cleaned off with a cloth was then covered with a sheet of tissue which was dampened and pressed onto the plate. Next, the tissue was gently lifted from the plate and set carefully onto the shape to be printed. As the tissue was deftly lifted away, the design was left behind. This early printing style left the print on top of the glazed item, which was then fired to finally set the print onto the glazed surface.

As the 18th century turned into the early 19th century, new ceramic printing techniques were developed, to not only improve the technique, but make it faster, time is money! The great name at this point is Josiah Spode who is credited with the introduction of under glaze blue transfer printing into Staffordshire, during 1781-84.

During the early 1800's, the tissue was replaced by a sheet of paper, or sometimes fabric. With a layer of glue applied, this could easily be cut and shaped to fit around curved objects such as dishes and teapots. This is known as the “bat” print and gives the process its alternative name “bat printing”. The inked bat was then placed on the ceramic object and an impression left, leaving the print adhering to the shape. The item was then dipped into the glaze and returned to the kiln for the glost, or, low firing. The glue bats were reusable, plus they conformed better to curved surfaces. Cobalt blue, under glaze transfer printing became a standard of the Staffordshire pottery industry.

Men like Josiah Spode, Wedgwood, Thomas Minton and others, were all entrepreneurial types and leading figures of the great Staffordshire ceramic industry. While sharing amicable business relationships, each kept an eye on the market! It was at this time that large export markets were opening or expanding in North America, Europe, and India where consumers sought elegant, matched sets of wares.

The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co illustrate a charming little English, Staffordshire, pottery accent lamp. The lamp with a cream coloured glaze and very finely printed in sepia with two “named views”. The front of the lamp with “Abbotsford, Selkirkshire, Scotland”, the reverse side printed with, “Chatsworth Derbyshire”. The lamp with elaborately modelled, silver shaped handles. The neck of the lamp delicately gilded with a formal motif. The rim and circular lamp base gilded, the gilding in very fine condition. The lamp seated on a custom made, polished, maple wood base. The custom-made lamp cap of gold plated bronze.

Circa 1840 Overall height (including shade) 17"/43cm

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique table lamp lighting with an on line range of over 100 unique, antique and vintage table lamps on view.

Lamps are shipped ready wired for the U.S, the U.K and Australia.

For more information you are invited to visit their web site at:-

www.antiquelampshop.com

About the Author

Maurice Robertson, principal of The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co , has had a lifetime’s association with antique porcelain and pottery,with his commercial experience spaning a period of 40 years,including as a valuer to the Australian Government’s Incentive to the Arts Scheme. His long experience with antique ceramics and glass also includes dealing with leading museums and numerous international private collections. He has extended his ceramics expertise into the quality table lamps seen on the company’s site, he is well known to local and international interior designers who have included many of his table lamps in their projects and has also supplied items of national interest to the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister.

Value needed for beautiful 16" round pottery platter, creamy white with cobalt blue border.?

Pottery platter is 16 inches across and made of white clay covered in creamy white and cobalt blue glaze. Creamy white center is about 10 1/2" and blue border is 2 1/2" The blue border has a raised scalloped design that looks like abstract mountains with peaks facing towards the center of platter. Imprinted on bottom of platter is: (copyright sign) TREASURE CRAFT USA. Bottom of platter is solid creamy white. Platter is finished with a thin glossy glaze. It was chipped by the movers in a recent move, and now they are asking for a value. I bought it in a gift shop and of course don't remember what I paid. I know that Treasure Craft is a famous line of pottery, but I have not seen anything like this on any websites that I have looked at. I thought it might be from a line of dishes, but I have looked on Replacements and can't find anything like this, although not everything has a photo. I need someone who is familiar with this item to respond.

Hey Muffin,

I like your name! I see noone has answered your question, perhaps because of the unique nature of the wares.

Perhaps you should try some specialists, which you can find on the internet, and not on Yahoo Answers.
You can find more of these types of places, by searching in Yahoo for Fine ART, or maybe in your case, Fine China.
Here are a few to try:

Hand Made Cobalt Blue Pottery Cup 001