C T Maling inscriptions
According to R C Bell, Christopher Thompson Maling took over the Ouseburn Bridge Pottery in 1853, from his father, Robert Maling. C T Maling opened the Ford Pottery in 1859. So the items on this page were made at Ouseburn Bridge.
There are two styles of inscription on this page, typified by the two plaques below. They are similar, but likely the work of two different enamellers. Both can be traced to CT Maling, and appear on objects from the 1850s.
Firstly, the distinctively flowing italic script on the mug below, which matches the left plaque above. It is attributed to C T Maling on the basis of the shared High Level Bridge transfer that appears on the marked bowl below in the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums collection. The catalogue says the bowl has a triangular impressed mark with the initials CTM. This form of script appears to have been used from the 1840s to 1856.
Secondly, the jug below has similar script to the right plaque above. It shares the Sailor's Return transfer that appears on bowls with the C T MALING impress. Note that the 'S' on the left plaque and jug below are identical. This appears to be a later hand, used on items from 1857.
Robert Maling items in a similar hand
The plate in the top centre below has a Maling impress, but unfortunately I don't have a record of the mark. It also has a dated inscription for 1843, so within the Robert Maling period at Ouseburn Bridge. The plaques below have similar script and are attributed to Robert Maling on that basis.
At first glance, the items above are dissimilar from the other items on this page. However, the mug below provides a link. Thanks to Ian Holmes for the following information: James Archbold was Mayor of Newcastle in 1846 with Joseph Crawhall as Sheriff. Crawhall was Mayor in 1849 but without Archbold. So 1846 is a reliable date for this mug. It has the curly capitals of the earlier plaques above, but is in a more assured and experienced hand, and a good match for the 1850s' items below. So perhaps the same enameller, perfecting his art over a 10-year period.
Inscriptions in date order
This jug, and the one beneath it, also belong to the Robert Maling period, as their inscriptions predate 1853.
Although undated, this jug is very similar in decoration and form to the two above.
Below, a similar jug from the Crimean period with masonic, maritime and farming emblems.
Food for thought
The jug, left below, is apparently by the the first hand described in the introduction above, and yet has a Farmers' Arms transfer that is firmly attributable to the Newcastle Pottery, Forth Banks. So perhaps the enameller worked there after leaving Ouseburn Bridge, c1856. Or perhaps he jobbed for both potteries. The right jug below has C T Maling transfers, but the script is again slightly different.
