Mariners' Compass – Tyneside
Attributed to Robert Maling, Ouseburn Bridge Pottery
Received wisdom has it that these green-flecked jugs were made by C,C & Co in North Shields. However, the green flecks are found on Maling impressed plaques made at the Ouseburn Bridge Pottery. I have recently acquired a green-flecked jug that shares a transfer with these firmly attributed Maling plaques. All of the items on this page appear to have come from the same pottery.
Early imprint without border above title
On the early imprints there is no serrated wheel border above the words Mariner's Compass (see section below for examples with the border).
The second jug below commemorates the coronation of William IV the 'sailor king' in 1831. This is the earliest dated use of the transfer that I've found.
The version of the transfer without a border (see left details below) has scratches that also appear on the transfer with the border (right details below). So the copper plate was likely reworked at a later date, and the border added. The later imprints with a border also have a diagonal scratch just to the left of NE (see bottom right detail).
Later imprint with border above title
This version of the transfer has a serrated wheel border above the words Mariner's Compass.
The jug below also has the 'serrated wheel' border, but no scratches as above.
