Carr & Patton-Attributed Inscriptions

Carr & Patton inscriptions

Attributed to Carr & Patton, North Shields Pottery

According to press announcements, the above North Shields partnership ran from 1838 to 1846. In fact, at the start of the partnership the wares produced were identical to those produced under Cornfoot, Carr & Co. An announcement was made of the 'demise of Mr Cornfoot' in February 1838, so items inscribed with that year are more likely to belong to this new partnership. Around 1841, North Shields began to produce more modern-looking items, which could be mistaken for those made by Dixon. The inscriptions are in a brick red. More research needs to be done, but it appears that an enameller from North Shields went to Sunderland in about 1845, and started work for the Garrison Pottery.

Photo Mellors and Kirk

Photo Hanes and Ruskin

Photo Duggleby Stephenson of York

Photo Conestoga Auctions

A rare and spectacular Gaudy Welsh jug, inscribed 1840. See the Dixon, Phillips & Co page for a Gaudy Welsh puzzle jug enamelled by the same hand. As discussed above, the enameller moved from North Shields to the Garrison Pottery in Sunderland in 1844.

Carr & Patton start to produce more modern-looking items in the early 1840s. The inscriptions are in a brick red, although apparently by the same hand, or a very similar one, to the items above. These wares look very similar to items produced by Dixon in Sunderland.

A jug with typical North Shields transfers and an inscribed date 1841.

Photo Maxwells of Wilmslow Auctioneers

Photo Dore & Rees Auctioneers

Carr & Patton appear to have continued making more traditional items in parallel with the 'Dixon type' jugs. Note the lustre decoration on the handle terminating in horizontal brushstrokes, which was like a signature on North Shields items in the 1830s.

An undated item with a similar cursive script. The ship transfer is reliably attributed to North Shields.

The above jug has opened up a small group of items with smaller lettering than others on this page. They share a small group of transfers including the Mariners' Compass above and the bridge view below. The script, despite being smaller, shares some distinct similarities with others on this page.

Photo Rogers Jones & Co

I had previously tentatively attributed this jug to Dawson, on the basis of the fine lustre decoration around the collar, found also on Dawson items. However, the script is nothing like that on other items from that pottery.

This jug has a jaunty ampersand that matches others on this page. I haven't yet recorded any other items with family names around the collar. Note also the formation of the lower case 'r'.

In the absence of a dated inscription, it is hard to be sure when this jug was made. It shows that North Shields was capable of producing fine and well-decorated items.

The mug below has very similar letter formations to the two jugs above. Compare the lower case letters with the details below from the jugs. In particular, note the uplift of the tail on the lower case letter 'a'. That is a feature of all of the items on this page, which doesn't appear on later John Carr items. The mug is attributed to North Shields on that basis.

Norman Lowe has identified a marriage of a Matthew Henry Marler at Lanchester Co. Durham in 1852, and the record gives his age as 31, indicating a date of birth in 1822 or thereabouts. So perhaps a coming of age present in 1843.