Staffordshire pottery pictorial wall plaques. Circa 1900.
All of the plaques on this page were made approximately between the years 1897 and 1918. None are impressed or have manufacturers backstamps but all were manufactured in the Staffordshire potteries. Some are commemorative and therefore easy to date. Plaques featuring King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra will have been made for their 1902 coronation. Most of the plaques showing British military leaders date from the Boer Wars of 1899 to 1902. Only one 'Boer War' plaque shown here is dated, that being the Hedworth Lambton relief of Ladysmith 1900. Also shown is a General French plaque from World War One and two for the 1918 peace celebrations.
Buyer beware.
Early rare commemoratives?
The Father Michael Murphy plaque commemorates his death at the Battle of Arklow and carries the date 1798. The plaque was not made until about 100 years after the event. Another event commemorated long after is the 1690 Battle of the Boyne. Various transfers of King William III appear on 'Masonic' commemorative pottery produced throughout the nineteenth century. However, the plaque shown below (and another variation not shown here) is definitely C1900.
Sunderland Lustre?
The rectangular shape of most of the Staffordshire produced plaques shown here is very similar to those called 'Sunderland Lustre' plaques made 150 miles away in the North-East of England and about 40 to 80 years earlier. 'Sunderland Lustre' plaques tend to be more expensive so it is in the interest of the hopeful or unscrupulous dealer to misrepresent 'Staffordshire plaques (circa 1900)' as 'Sunderland'. Very basically, Sunderland Lustre plaques have 'lustre' decoration rather than gilded speckles, and the Sunderland transfers are black rather than multi-coloured. Look out for circa 1900 plaques with recently painted pink borders. For detailed information about nineteenth century pottery plaques please refer to http://www.matesoundthepump.com/