Scarce Gray - Purple - Blue Color TRANSFERWARE PLATE
Victorian Staffordshire
Ridgway Morley Wear
Circa 1836-42

For consideration is this wonderful and very rarely seen colored transfer ware plate by William Ridgway in the wonderful Scottish inspired Caledonian pattern.   Caledonia is the Latin name given to the land in today's Scotland, by the Romans.  This is one of my all time favorites as it represents my (part) Scottish ancestry, my love of all things tartan or plaid and of course transferware!  I have pieces of this in my own collection.

Ridgway Potteries Ltd, was founded sometime around 1744. Sometimes called the Grandfather of the Potteries, the Ridgway family can be traced to the earliest days of the Staffordshire potteries, along with such famous names as Wedgwood, Spode and Adams.

Under the management of one family member, John Ridgway, the Ridgway potters were appointed as Potter to Her Majesty Queen Victoria. This was the highest acclaim for any English pottery firm.

One of the family members, William Ridgway, operated the Bell Works in Shelton and the Church Works in nearby Hanley from 1830-54. The Bell Works Pottery at Bethesda Street has been The Potteries Museum since 1956 and houses the largest and most important collection of North Staffordshire pottery in the world.

Measures: 9 1/8"

Condition: tiny nic and flake on the rim and tight hairline on back. See last two photos.  Price has been reduced by 50%

To learn more about English transferware and see it in many practical and decorative uses please visit me at one of the places below:

BLOG: www.nancysdailydish.blogspot.com
PINTEREST: www.pinterest.com/transferware
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/English-Transferware/277105748523
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/transferware

Featured on Etsy November 2012:
http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/collecting-english-transferware-one-womans-story