Dixon, Phillips & Co inscriptions
The above partnership ran from 1839 to 1865 when the Garrison Pottery closed. Inscriptions from the 1840s appear to be less common. There are two main hands during this period. The earlier hand from the 1840s to early 1850s has a distinctive lower case 't' and 'l' and a flamboyant ampersand. The enameller appears to have first worked in North Shields, for Carr & Patton, until moving to the Garrison Pottery in about 1845. The left example below is from North Shields, and the right from a firmly-attributed Dixon, Phillips & Co jug.
The later hand, from about 1850–65, has a neat cursive script, often surrounded by lustre flourishes. The enameller again appears to have had a career on Tyneside, at Thomas Fell's St Peter's Pottery, before arriving in Sunderland. Below are examples from Fell from the 1830s and 40s on the left, and on the right, from Dixon, Phillips & Co from the 1850s and 60s.
Inscriptions in date order
The left plate has a date of 1842, which precedes the date at which the first enameller discussed above left North Shields. It could be by a different but similar hand. Or it is possible that the enameller moved backwards and forwards between the two potteries for a while as an itinerant worker.
This jug has a brick red inscription and could easily be mistaken for a North Shields item. However, the transfers match those found on other Garrison Pottery items.
At some point before 1850, an enameller who worked for Thomas Fell in Newcastle in the 1830s and 40s moved to Sunderland and worked at the Garrison Pottery. This is the earliest dated example of his work there that I have found. It is possible though that this jug was made sometime after the date in the inscription.
Photo Ian Holmes
Around 1854 the Fell enameller becomes the dominant hand at the Garrison Pottery until its closure in 1865.
A mug dated 1859, and a saucer with a similar inscription and the 'Dixon Co' impress.
And finally... I'm unsure that this item was made by Dixon, so it is presented out of date order. It is apparently enamelled by the same hand as the slightly later plaque above. It is possible that the enameller was jobbing at more than one pottery, or that the loving cup was indeed made at the Garrison Pottery.
