The Different Types of Pottery

The making of pottery progressed with thecomposition and certainly very strong. The heavy
progress of centuries. There are various types ofware, almost unbreakable, was both cheap and
pottery and coated or painted with differentshowy. It was made in the form of domestic
types and styles of decorations. We will see herepieces with pseudo-oriental decoration in vivid
how pottery has progressed till today.blues and reds, and many of the big dinner
Early in the nineteenth century came theservices are still being used. Sets of jugs, with
introductions of pieces decorated with luster, bothhandles in the shape of dragons, were made also
silver- and copper-colored, and there was a greatand are not uncommon.
variety among the finished products. Silver lusterA style of decoration that is occasionally seen,
on a canary-yellow ground is the rarest, but silverparticularly on jugs and tankards, is known as
in conjunction with under-glaze blue, especially ifmocha, from a resemblance to a type of quartz
the latter is a sporting subject, is sought after andof that name, and has brown moss-like blotches
expensive.on it. The stains were made with the aid of
Whole tea-sets were made at one period, eachtobacco-juice and hops, and doubtless gave
piece covered completely with a thin film of silverpleasure to the potters making it.
luster, and they were a passable imitation of theChildren were catered for from about 1830 with
real thing for those who could not afford to buysmall plates printed with moral rhymes and other
the genuine metal. Copper-lusted pieces havesuitable subjects. Many were made in
been made since about 1800 and production hasStaffordshire, but some came from
been continuous for some 150 years; whichStockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham.
explains why so many 'early nineteenth-century'Enoch Wood and John Walton were prominent
specimens are obtainable.among makers of figures, many of them of small
Although cream ware continued to be made,size and colored in opaque enamels with green
white-glazed pottery was developed from 1780predominating. Many of Walton's bear an
to compete with porcelain and was produced inimpressed stamp with the name of the maker.
great quantities by many makers. At first it hadLater pieces, introduced in about 1850, are the
decoration printed solely in under glaze blue, butwell-known Staffordshire chimneypiece ornaments
later developments included a wide range ofin the form of portrait-figures, often
colors. Whole services were made, and Spode,unrecognizable without the name painted on the
Wedgwood and Davenport (all of Staffordshire)front of the base, ranging from politicians to
were among the more prominent of the hundredsmurderers.
of names associated with it. The earlierBesides the other the introduction of ironstone
blueprinted ware is very well finished and some ofchina in the first half of the nineteenth century.
the patterns are most attractive; a few, includingThere were almost unbreakable and showy
the willow pattern, are still being made.potteries. And potteries were also made to suite
One of the most popular introductions of the firstthe different moods of people in different shapes
half of the nineteenth century was ironstoneand sizes as well.
china, said to contain ironstone slag in its