Do you love collecting transfer ware pottery as much as we do?
With elaborate borders and endearing scenes, each piece of transferware pottery is a miniature work of art.
A little historical refresher: The technique of transfer printed decoration on pottery was developed in England in the last half of the 18th century. Transferring a print from an engraved and inked copper plate to a sheet of paper, potters then applied the paper to unfired clay or china, which absorbed the ink from the paper.
The clay was then fired, and beautifully decorated plates, platters, and all other sorts of pottery was made much quicker and less expensive than the traditional method used until then of hand painting.
In Staffordshire, England, this process lead to potteries being able to supply good quality, decorated table wares to the ever growing middle class. During this century, only cobalt blue underglaze could survive the high heat and the gazes that contained lead oxide. At first, designs were copies of the Chinese designs, because Chinoiserie was all the rage in Europe. It’s at this time that the still classic and very beloved pattern Blue Willow was designed.
Some of the Italian designs also appeared, but it really wasn’t until the 1800’s that European scenes and subjects were featured on transfer ware pieces.
Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, scenic views copied from the topographical prints of England, Italy and other “continental” countries were used for many transfer patterns. Many designs were especially created for the Americian market, as the transfer pieces were very popular there too.
We recently were able to purchase quite a collection of flow blue and blue and white transfer ware, {yay!!} and I thought you might want to see some of the beautiful and intricate designs.
A few pieces grouped together or a large collection displayed en masse make an exquisite decorative statement.
Transferware, with its subject matter, technique and colors, is timeless; a classic that is admired just as much today as it was in the 18th century.
{photo shot by me of my CF book}
Still the darling of decorators, transferware is beautifully decorative as well as useful. I took a few photos from {one of my favorite designers of all time} Mr. Charles Faudree’s books to share.
{photo shot by me of my CF book}
Display your collection on your walls, or inside a buffet or on shelves. I love how the blue and white transfer pottery dots every surface in this beautiful room!
{photo shot by me of my CF book}
And how beautiful is this large collection of mostly Blue Willow in this dining area? Mixed with reds, you couldn’t help but feel happy when in this room, don’t you agree?
{photo shot by me of my CF book}
These pieces have survived for over a hundred years and are meant to be used and bring joy. Another illustration from one of Mr. Faudree’s books, with lots of blue and white, and red.
{photo shot by me of my CF book}
This kitchen has shelves that show off many of the antiques we’ve sold {and still do!} here at FrenchGardenHouse. Antique Staffordshire hens, hand painted black and white delft dishes, blue & white tureens, platters and dishes, and white ironstone.
A somewhat shabby blue painted country hutch filled with a collection of antique Staffordshire English plates and platters, and some antique French white enamelware that we offer at FGH too.
You can read more about flow blue HERE >
I am always on the hunt for exceptional quality blue and white pottery plates, platters and more.
You can shop our latest “just arrived” HERE>
ARE YOU A LOVER AND COLLECTOR OF BLUE AND WHITE?
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE PIECE IN THE COMMENTS SO WE CAN ALL ENJOY IT TOO!
à bientôt
If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.
Welcome to our back room.
Absolutely amazing thank you for sharing this great history. God bless
Thank you for enjoying the history of transfer ware too, Norma. I always like to know a little bit about things I love, don’t you? Hope you have a gorgeous day!
Nice article and beautiful collection.
Thanks so much Cher! I hope you have a beautiful day today.
Lidy, your transferware is gorgeous. I have a wall of it in my kitchen, I call it the ‘blue wall.’ It makes me happy as does everything Charles Faudree ever did. He was such a marvelous talent and his work lives on.
Happy day to you!
I have a few pieces… now I want more!
Nancy, that’s the beauty of blue & white, it inspire searching for the next amazing piece!
Blue and white is such a favorite combo of mine. Your collection is exquisite.
I think blue and white is everyone’s favorite don’t you, Jeanie? It looks great with everything! Xo
Love transferware and I have pieces in red and brown. Funny I posted some today in my September kitchen post.
You always offer great information
Cindy
Cindy, when I get a chance I’d love to see your kitchen with your transfer ware.
I love the red, and have a collection of red transfer ware too. 🙂
I also love and collect blue and white. It just works! It works on the table, on the wall (I really learned that from Charles Faudree) and it works atop a cabinet, on a shelf, in a vignette. Your latest pieces are just stunning (though of course that is all you would list in your shop!). Thank you for sharing.
Blue and white, it always works, you are so right Janet! I find myself constantly referring to Mr. Faudree’s books again and again, and like you, I learn so much from him!
Hi Lidy, I enjoy the blue & white Transferware, although I have just a few pieces and those are at least 75 years old! Some are very flow blue in their design from what I can tell, and my mother received them from a friend who passed away in the 1960’s. Although the blue pieces are lovely, have you ever noticed other Transferware colors like brown, green, or my favorites of the purple? I collect lavender glass, where the color changed from clear to pale lavender from the manganese in the glass when exposed to sunlight. Those pieces along with depression glass pieces in lavender and amethyst, complimenting my dark purple Johnson Bros Transferware from England, and sitting with lavender colored French linens, looks lovely too! And Charles Faudree is my favorite decorator of all things French, and your posting makes me want to pull those books out again. When hanging plates, do you have a brand of plate hangers that you like to use, as I find them a little hard to work with. Thanks!
HI Liz, it sounds like you have a gorgeous collection! I love purple transfer ware too…such a beautiful color. The plate hangers I love are linked in the post for you. They have a vinyl coating so they don’t damage the plates.
My favorite blue and white is my Royal Warwick Lochs of Scotland. I inherited six place settings with a few accessory pieces from my Grandmother, my Aunt inherited the other six place settings.I have added pieces along when I could find them. I would love to know more about them but have never been able to. I also have a set of Liberty Blue and Blue Willow. They all work together beautifully. Thank you for sharing.
Linda, you are so fortunate to have family blue and white! That makes them all the more special, doesn’t it?
Hi Lidy,
Just going back to this post again and was looking up Charles Faudree books on line…could you tell me which book the first two pics came from,as there are at least seven books to select from on Amazon? =)
Thank you
Hi, Lidy,
I am a little late for this but with our black out’s had to stay off of here for a bit, but now watching all you have sent latley and love this one, great job and also I have so much of the same decor and blue’s just love seeing all the prettie’s. Have a Happy Fall~~~~~
Bonjour, Jean~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Lidy, I love your site and shop. I’m reaching out because I collect transfer wares and recently found a piece which has me stumped. It is a large blue and white bowl, with an oriental pattern, and a hand applied M on its base. It appears to be quite early. Would you be willing to look at some images? Or, can you point me in the direction of someone who might be able to tell me more about this bowl?
Whitney, thank you so much! Since I don’t know where you live, I can’t really point you locally. There are online sites who will identify your piece and be able to evaluate it for you for a fee, I suggest you google antique evaluation or appraisal to find one. Good luck!
I love my display of various plates garnered from vintage stores wherever I roam. I have some pieces I love. Your site gives me a thrill. 😉