Masonry – Sunderland
J Phillips & Co, Sunderland Pottery
This early version of the transfer that appears on early creamware jugs has a printed factory mark 'J. PHILLIPS & Co. Sunderland Pottery' below the verse at the bottom. Baker states that the John Phillips proprietorship ran from 1807 to 1812. However, J Phillips transfers also appear on items with Dixon Co transfers, well into the 1830s. I would guess this jug is 1820s. This transfer could have been used at the North Hylton site or at the Garrison Pottery. Both sites operated as the Sunderland Pottery.
A broad collared jug below. Both transfers have the printed mark 'J PHILLIPS & Co Sunderland Pottery'. This bridge view can also be found with the printed mark 'DIXON& Co'. There are mugs with very similar floral decoration in the Sunderland Museum inscribed with the date 1825.
Dixon, Austin & Co, Sunderland Pottery
A jug with the printed mark 'DIXON & AUSTIN Sunderland Pottery'. Press cuttings show that the partnership ran from 1818 to 1839. This jug likely dates from the 1820s.
This jug also has a transfer with the printed mark 'DIXON & Co SUNDERLAND POTTERY' (see below).
Below is a pink lustre jug with the same transfer with the mark 'DIXON & AUSTIN Sunderland Pottery'. This jug is likely later, from the 1830s.
Below, the Dixon Austin version on a large and superbly decorated bowl, with other Masonic transfers and hand-painted inscriptions, but no date.
Dixon, Phillips & Co, Garrison Pottery
This Garrison transfer from the 1850s and 60s is very similar to the Low Lights 1 version further down this page. However, there are some subtle differences as follows. Top right detail: leaf to the right of the flower (above the sun) points to the right. Bottom left detail: the rose above the eye doesn't have separate petals. Bottom centre detail: the letter 't' in the word accepted looks squeezed in.
The marriage jug below is dated 1855. The large punch bowl is c1860. The second jug has an inscription for 1859.
The marriage jug below is dated 1855. The large punch bowl is c1860. The second jug has an inscription for 1859.
A larger jug with a handle to assist pouring.
The imprints are clearer on these jugs with brightly coloured enamels, c1860–65, and on the jug with the handle above, so it is possible the plate was re-engraved towards the end of its life. The petals of the rose in the bottom left detail are better defined.
There are small nicks and scratches that unite the objects with this transfer, suggesting the transfers came from the same copper plate.
Masonry – Tyneside
Low Lights Pottery 1
Top right detail: leaf to the right of the flower (above the sun) points upwards. Bottom left detail: the rose above the eye doesn't has separately drawn petals. Bottom centre detail: the letter 't' in the word accepted is well spaced.
This transfer is attributed to John Carr on the basis of the inscribed jug below dated 1841. The red painted text is typical of items from Carr's Low Lights Pottery in North Shields.
Two later jugs with the transfer; the first dated 1857. The elaborate lustre decoration on the second jug below is again typical of Carr.
A chamber pot with the same version of the transfer.
A wash ewer with the transfer and typical Carr orange-lustre decoration from the 1870s.
Low Lights Pottery 2
The plaque below, although attributed to Carr's Low Lights Pottery in North Shields, has the Garrison Pottery version of this transfer. The transfer plate was likely bought by Carr's in 1865 when the Garrison Pottery closed. It has the same nicks and scratches as the Dixon items above.
Below, three Carr-attributed jugs with the Dixon version of the transfer and similar enamels over the transfer as the plaque above.
Maling Pottery – 20th century reproductions
This jug is printed with a variation of the Low Lights 1 transfer. Maling made bowls and jugs with this transfer in the mid 20th century. However, they didn't always mark these items, so 'buyer beware'.
The unmarked masonic items below with distinctive marbled-lustre decoration are 20th century repros. They are unmarked but were likely also made by Maling. The loving cup has been restored which gives it a look of some age. However, lustre loving cups like this one with moulded handles are always repros.
