Frogs

Frogs – Sunderland

Sunderland Pottery, Dixon 1810–20s – frog 1

The large creamware tankard above, c1810, has a distinctive small frog with orange eyes and mouth. Creamware items from the 1820s also appear with this frog (see below).

The frogs above are from the items below, respectively.

Attributed to Garrison Pottery, Dixon, 1840s – frog 2

A similar mug with the Bridge Over the River Wear transfer.

Attributed to Garrison Pottery, Dixon, 1850s – frog 3

Attributed to Low Ford Pottery, Dawson, 1840s

See the Mariner's Compass (ships 2) page for details of how these items link to Dawson's.

The two frogs above, from the two mugs below, respectively.

Attributed to Newbottle High Pottery, 1840s

Attributed to Seaham Pottery, 1840s – frog 1

See the Mariner's Compass (flags) page for details of how these items relate to Seaham.

The frogs above are from the items below, respectively.

Attributed to Seaham Pottery, 1840s – frog 2

A smaller, more finely moulded frog, also attributed to Seaham.

Wear Pottery – Moore & Co, Southwick, 1840s

Moore's frogs have a broad grin, and orange enamelled eyes and mouths.

The frogs above are from the items below, respectively.

Attributed to A Scott & Co, Southwick, c1810 – frog 1

Thanks to Norman Lowe who writes: The bridge view is signed 'Edwd Barker' and in an NCS newsletter article, Nick Dolan indicates that Edward Barker was an engraver who received payments from the Southwick Pottery between 1796 and 1800. So it could be an early Scott mug perhaps.

The first frog relates to the first mug below, and the centre and right images to the second mug, with the inscription Thomas Thompson.

Attributed to Scott & Sons, Southwick, c1830 – frog 2

This mug is attributed to Scott on the basis that a very similar (but larger) appears on Scott tankards and jugs, c1830 (see Baker bridge 27). The frog rests on very distinctive front legs.

Below shows how the transfer on the frog mug (top row) compares with the larger transfer reliably attributed to Scott (second row). Note the difference to the text in the third line of the title.

The images below show the decoration of the tankard. Unfortunately, there is no frog to compare.

Attributed to Scott & Sons, Southwick, c1830 – frog 3

This mug is attributed to Scott on the basis of the similarity of decoration to firmly attributed tankard above. The frog is similar to frog 2 above, except that its front legs are more widely spaced. NB Dixon also had a variation of this transfer showing an inn keeper serving 'good ale' to huntsmen.

Attributed to Scott & Sons, Southwick, c1830 – frog 4

Again, although this frog mug is unmarked, it is attributed to Scott's on the basis of the strong similarities of decoration.

Although the mug below has no frog, it helps us to tie some of the decorative elements of this group together. The lustre decoration around the transfer, and on the handle in particular.

Scott & Sons, Southwick, 1830s – frog 5

Scott's frog from the 1830s has long back legs, bent back on themselves.

Scott Brothers & Co, Southwick, 1840–50s – frog 6

Scott's frog is similar to Moore's, but often painted black with pink lips and eyes.

The frogs above are from the items below, respectively. The first has an obliterated Scott & Sons mark. The mark was likely hatched out when the Scott Brothers & Co partnership began in 1841. The third mug has a Crimea transfer c1850.

Anthony Scott, Southwick Pottery, c1870 – frog 7

Frogs from orange lustre items produced after 1870. The third appears to be from a different mould.

The frogs above are from the items below, respectively.

This frog is similar to the last above, but has been left undecorated.

Ball's Deptford Pottery c1890 – frog 1

An orange lustre chamber pot with a brown frog, very similar to those attributed to Anthony Scott above.

Ball's Deptford Pottery c1890 – frog 2

Ball's Deptford Pottery c1890 – frog 3

A frog mug attributed to Ball's with a finely modelled frog decorated in brown and green enamels.

Ball's Deptford Pottery, early 20th C – frog 4

Unidentified pottery, likely Ball's Deptford

Frogs – Tyneside

Newcastle Pottery, Addison, Falconer & Co, c1800

This frog mug courtesy of Ian Sharp. He writes: A rare Newcastle Pottery creamware pottery frog mug decorated with an overglaze transfer of a British sailing ship, c.1800. The transfer bears the factory’s name within the waves : “Newcastle Pottery“. The mug was manufactured at the Newcastle Pottery (also known later as the Skinnerburn and Forth Banks’ Pottery) under the partnership of Addison, Falconer & Co ., 1790 – 1834. The mug bears a frog of a typical early shape having elongated “toes”.

Northumberland Pottery, North Shields, c1825

This frog mug, again, courtesy of Ian Sharp. He writes: An early creamware frog mug from the Northumberland Pottery, North Shields c.1825. This bridge view is the early engraving used on all of the North Shields’ pottery’s wares. This version was originally described as the “Tyneside School” version of the Bridge view. Frog mugs from this factory and period are incredibly rare.

Thomas Fell, St Peter's Pottery, Newcastle, 1840s – frog 1

Thomas Fell, St Peter's Pottery, Newcastle, 1840s – frog 2

Maling attributed, 1856

This mug is attributed to Maling on account of the distinctive lustre decoration. It has an inscription with the date 1856.

John Carr & Sons, Low Lights Pottery, North Shields, c1850 – frog 1

Attributed to John Carr & Sons, Low Lights Pottery, North Shields – frog 2

The frogs above belong to the two mugs below respectively. These transfers are found on jugs with transfers associated with Carr and Patton at North Shields. However, the imprints below are degraded, and the items of the poor quality associated with a later period of production: perhaps 1860s.