Pirate (Paul Jones, Byron)
Attributed to Walker & Co, Seaham Pottery
Photo Ian Holmes
The transfer has at some time been titled as Paul Jones (see centre and right below). At other times, he has been identified as Byron, who had associations with Seaham. These slightly larger than average plaques with buttery copper lustre appear to be unique to Seaham. The inscriptions that appear on these plaques match the script on the 'Prima Jug' (see below).
The central ship transfer to this bowl appears to be unique to Seaham. This transfer appears on the Seaham 'Prima' Jug (see top left image below) in the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums collection.
The details below, from the plaque, bowl and jug above share a unique flaw. When cross-hatching the top of the canon, the engraver slipped and cross-hatched into the forefinger of the pirate's right hand.
Early imprint without the scratch
The jug below has a tall shape and distinctive enamels which are features associated with items attributed to Seaham. See the Mariners' Compass page for a similar Seaham Jug with enamels over the transfer and the rationale for an earlier date.
Attributed to Seaham – possible second transfer plate
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The detail near right is from the jug above, and far right from the plaque. The eyes of the pirate are closer together on the first detail from the jug. Sometimes you get variations through wrinkles in the application of the transfer, so I'd like to see another example |
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The detail near right is again from the jug above. Even comparing it to the earlier Seaham imprint from the jug with enamels over the transfer (far right detail), there appear to be significant differences. in the shading, in particular. Again, it would be useful to see another imprint from this presumed second version of the transfer. |
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Attributed to John Carr & Sons, North Shields
We know that transfer plates used at Seaham Pottery turn up at North Shields, c1850. John Hedley Walker, the owner of the Seaham Pottery, moved his operations to Carr's Hill Pottery near Gateshead in 1849. 'Carr's Hill' refers to a village, and not to the North Shields potter of the same name. However, this does provide a plausible explanation for why the copper plates might have migrated northwards to Tyneside.
Ian Holmes has noted that the distinctive lustre decoration (last image) is found on items attributed to Thomas Fell and Carr. It appears that the enameller moved around. The Hardy Sailor verse has not yet been recorded on a Seaham item.
This bowl has wavy lustre decoration typical of John Carr. It also has an impressed London mark known to have been used by North Shields.
