1379

Staffordshire Blue & White Transfer Stoneware Platter, "Athens" Scene [142405]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Staffordshire  Blue & White Transfer Stoneware Platter,  Athens  Scene  [142405]
SOLD
300.00USD+ (66.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2022 Feb 24 @ 14:06UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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Large English Delft blue and white transferware stoneware platter. Most likely another Staffordshire piece from the early 1800s. Reverse is marked in blue print "Athens" indicating the name of the pattern. It is also imprinted "Stoneware / P & T"(?) (Illegible), "18" and printed with a single capital letter "B". It measures approximate 19" x 16" with a scalloped edge and 1.5" dip into the dished center of the platter.

We found reference to at least two English potters who used a pattern called "Athens", and although the scene on this platter bears some resemblance, we could not match it exactly.
Of the two potters we were able to rule out Charles Meigh, who operated out of Hanley c1835-1849) William Adams & Sons also offered an "Athens" pattern. Several branches of the Adams family operated factories in the Staffordshire Potteries in late 18th and early 19th centuries, including William Adams I, II and III. William Adams I was an accomplished potter best known for his high quality stonewares. However, his pieces are recorded as marked. His son's work also included stonewares of a light blue tone that exclusively featured European scenery, but his work is also known to be marked. Lastly, there is William Adams II (1748-1831) who was a minor when his father died, so the pottery was let to Josiah Wedgwood, who operated it as the Bell Works. William II took over in 1769, at which time Josiah Wedgwood opened the Etruria Factory. During his potting career, this William owned or occupied several factories both alone and in partnership with others, but no marked ware of his has ever been identified, making his work a strong candidate for many unmarked pieces of the highest quality, comparable to Wedgwood's, his father's and brother's.

The other prominent mark on this platter is a small imprint in the center with "STONE WARE" in an arc or half circle shape and what appears to be 3 letters in a straight line under the "STONE WARE" arc. At first glance the letters resembled "P a T" or "P & C" to us, but the platter is so old that the mark has been worn and it is impossible for us to verify those letters. After a lengthy search we found an almost identical mark belonging to Podmore, Walker & Co. who operated out of Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, from 1834-1856. The imprint attributed to this pottery is identical, except the letters underneath the arc are PW&Co. and the letters on this platter do not resemble PW&Co. at all. However, the blue and white platters from this firm look similar to this one, and one has the exact same shape and size with scalloped edge. After additional research we discovered that Thomas Podmore first established a business at the Upper Pot Works c.1830 under the name Thomas Podmore & Co., which he operated for several years before Walker joined him. Although its pure conjecture, we think it is possible Thomas Podmore used the same mark with "TP & Co" under the "STONE WARE" arc, and we can only make out the P & C of the imprint on this platter. It is interesting to note that later Enoch Wedgwood also joined the Podmore partnership and when Thomas Podmore died, Enoch inherited the company and continued operation under the name Wedgwood & Co. Although we cannot attribute this incredible platter either Podmore or William Adams II, both of these possibilities lead us to the name Wedgwood. The platter is unquestionably worth pursuing a professional opinion.



Date: c Early 1800s
Country (if not USA): United Kingdom
State:
City: Staffordshire
Provenance: