Here's a lovely, antique English Staffordshire Sunderland lusterware porcelain covered cigarette box of rectangular form, the domed top with brown transferware decoration, depicting a flock of sheep being herded down a country lane.

Lustreware or Lustreware dates all the way back to the 9th Century where it was developed in what is now Iraq, Mesopotamia, where the first designs were usually geometric. Through the centuries it was made through most of the Middle East. It is a type of porcelain or pottery that has a metallic glaze. The glaze gives it an iridescent finish. It is produced by metallic oxides in an overgrazed finish, which is given a second firing at a lower temperature in a reduction or muffle kiln.

The English began producing lustreware in the late 1700's-1800. John Hancock, towards the end of the 18th century probably first produced English lustreware with a previously unused metal, platinum, at the Spode factory.

Lustreware became more popular in the Staffordshire potteries during the 19th century, where it was also used by Wedgwood, who introduced pink and white lustreware. Wedgwood lustreware made in the 1820s spawned the production of mass quantities of copper and silver lustreware in England and Wales.

In 1810 Peter Warburton of the New Hall Porcelain factory patented a method of transfer printing in gold and silver lustre. Sunderland is renowned for its mottled pink lustreware, and lustreware was also produced in Leeds, Yorkshire where the technique may have been introduced by Thomas Lakin. Many pieces were commissioned with names and were often given as celebratory gifts for birthdays and marriages. Other commemorative subjects were produced on the lustreware as well... war and royalty, death and remembrance. Many, many versions of religious nature or with ships and sailors were made as well. Lustreware is highly collected today.

Measures: Appx 5" x 3.5"

Condition: Very good, no chips or cracks, there is some crazing

Marked: English Ware

*last photo via House & Garden, collection of Stephen Smith

Lancasters

Sunderland Pink Copper Lustreware Staffordshire Cigarette or Trinket Box Herding Sheep

$124.99