Queen Victoria, Sunderland transfers
I'm indebted to Ian Holmes for providing photos of many of the items on this page.
Dixon, Austin & Co, Sunderland – plate 1
These plaques were made after Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, and most likely for the coronation in 1838. That puts them just within the Dixon Austin period at the Garrison Pottery, which ended in 1839. Contrary to appearances on this page, these plaques are relatively rare.
Several potteries using this transfer appear to have had copper plates made with two variations of the transfer side by side. That way, imprints from the copper plate could be used to decorate mugs, with an image of Victoria on either side. That, I think, explains why there are plaques with different versions of the Victoria transfer. I haven't yet found a Garrison Pottery mug to test this theory.
Several potteries using this transfer appear to have had copper plates made with two variations of the transfer side by side. That way, imprints from the copper plate could be used to decorate mugs, with an image of Victoria on either side. That, I think, explains why there are plaques with different versions of the Victoria transfer. I haven't yet found a Garrison Pottery mug to test this theory.
Dixon, Austin & Co, Sunderland – plate 2
Note the difference in the cloud formation in the right detail to the plaque above.
This appears to be the same transfer, or very similar, on a jug.
Dixon, Austin & Co, Sunderland – plate 3
A Dixon Austin plaque, but with a very different cloud formation in the right detail.
Dixon, Austin & Co, Sunderland – plate 4
And again, a different variation, so 4 engravings in all. NB this plaque has some retouching done to the centre detail to conceal restoration. Note the relationship between the transfer and the title 'Victoria', which has been carelessly applied. Interesting that despite 4 variations of the transfer, these plaques still remain rare and hard to find.
Unidentified pottery
This mug, from the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums collection, has a distinctive version of the transfer paired with 'The Great Bridge Over the Valley of the River Wear'.
Unidentified pottery
On this version, which could be either Sunderland or Tyne, there are three zig-zag patterns to the right side of Victoria's head, like the items above. However, the clouds are more like those on the North Shields-attributed version. The mug appears to have a different version of the Victoria transfer on each side.
Queen Victoria, Tyneside transfers
Jackson & Patterson, Sherrif Hill Pottery, Gateshead
A rare plate marked with the J&P impress, for Jackson and Patterson at the Sheriff Hill Pottery. The transfer is similar to the Dixon versions.
Although unmarked, the hand-painted inscription on this mug sits well with those attributed to Sheriff Hill. Again, it looks to have a different version of the transfer on each side of the mug. The second row of details appears to match the plate above.
Below is another plate with a flower-moulded rim attributed to Sheriff Hill, but this time with a printed mark 'VICTORIA' and a different impressed mark. The transfer is apparently from the same copper plate as the third row of details above.
Attributed to Cornfoot, Carr & Co, North Shields
This Tyne version has two zig-zag patterns to the right side of Victoria's head.
Again, this mug, from the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums collection, has a slightly different version of Victoria on each side.
The jug below, from the same pottery, has the second version of the transfer.
