Creamware ships

Creamware ship transfers

There are probably hundreds of variations of ship transfer that appear on creamware items. Mugs, jugs, bowls and plates were made in both Sunderland and Newcastle. However, they were also made by Wedgwood and others in Staffordshire, Herculaneum and the Liverpool potteries, and in Swansea too. The majority of items are unmarked making identification uncertain in many cases. However, as a general rule (although not an infallible one), transfers with ships with the American flag are usually from the potteries on the west coast of Britain. I've tried to limit this page to items which more likely than not are from the North East.

Attributed to John Phillips, Sunderland Pottery

Photo Skinner Inc

The ship transfer is hand-painted on this bowl and it appears with a Sunderland Bridge transfer that is found on firmly attributable Dixon, Austin & Co items (made after 1818).

Perhaps John Phillips, Sunderland Pottery

This transfer is so similar to the painted ship above that it may be from the same pottery. Note also the similarities in enamelling and the open canon port, third from the front of the ship.

Unidentified pottery

A very large punch bowl with the Jack on a Cruise transfer. This is another variation of the transfer. Note the reefing lines (vertical marks) on the sails.