Transferware tidbits

See that blue bowl? Doesn't it look like English transferware?

Playing Mother ~ Jessie Willcox Smith (1863-1935)

From A Very Little Child's Book of Stories

Many of you are already collecting 'transferware' and probably know much more about its history than I do. A recent article in Country Living found me running to check my few pieces and in doing so I realized I want more.

In the mid-1700s, a new English transfer-printing process meant that patterns could be reproduced inexpensively compared to hand-painted goods coming from China. (Can you believe the stuff that came from China even that far back). Blue was the first color - still the most popular - followed by brown, black, purple,green, red, pink and yellow (the rarest). I like green and now have started collecting some red and pink pieces.

I was recently asked about my green Torquay patterned transferware below. This is a reproduction of an 1820 English pattern on earthenware, trimmed with matte gold. Made in England and available at retail, it's expensive, so I have just a few pieces that have been gifts from my husband. Why do I love this pattern? Torquay is my home town in England. The pattern depicts seashells and seaweeds found along the South Devon coast where I was born. I spent much of my childhood on the beaches hunting for shells and swimming through tangles of seaweeds.

Do I use it? Of course - in fact I'm off to make a cup of tea right now as it's teatime.

Edited: - For Sherry in answer to her comment. Here is the mark on the back of the dinner plate. This is the green version, it also comes in blue. Here is the link to Replacements Ltd. who carry quite a large stock of both colors.

Below are my red and pink pieces, a mix of styles and makers, and modern reproductions not antiques. These are what I will be hunting down at flea markets and yard sales, and of course I have the great gals at SuzAnna's Antiques looking out for me too.

I don't put sugar in my tea so find this the perfect quote ~