Transferware is a kind of pottery made by transferring a customized print from special paper onto earthenware or a porcelain Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating materials, generally including kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 and 1,400 °C. The toughness, strength, and translucence of porcelain, relative to other types of pottery, arises mainly from vitrification and the formation of the …Porcelain
What is transferware?
It is the term given to pottery which has had a pattern applied to it by the transferring of a design from an inked, hand engraved, warmed copper plate to a wet tissue paper and then onto the body of pottery it decorates. Transferware is most commonly found on earthenware, but also on ironstone,...
How do you identify a transferware decorative object?
When examining a transferware decorative object, you can distinguish it by the fine lines produced through the engraving process that originates on the copper plate. If you’ve ever seen an old book filled with engraved images, it’s much the same look only on a plate, tureen, or other ceramic objects, instead of a piece of paper.
What was the first transferware pattern?
Some of the earliest transferware patterns were done in blue and white with an Asian influence. Chinese blue was popular in the mid-1700s, as was the Blue Willow pattern.
What kind of transferware was made in Holland?
The Dutch, known for their iconic delft pottery, also produced transferware, like this beautiful piece signed “Societe Ceramic, Maastricht, Made in Holland,” which dates to the period 1887-1955. (Value: $18-22) Woolworths (remember them??) marketed “Phoenix Bird” pattern china for many years.
Is Transferware still made?
There are a lot of new transferware pieces currently sold. Companies such as Spode, Royal Copenhagen, and Johnson Brothers currently sell some of their most popular transferware patterns. The patterns red, blue, and brown patterns below are both from Spode.
When was Transferware made?
When was it made? Transferware first started appearing on the market in the late 18th century, and exploded in popularity in the 1820s and 1830s. Although the styles of the transfers changed over the years, it has been made continuously since then.
Who invented Transferware?
The invention of transferware pottery has been subject to academic dispute, but credit was ultimately bestowed on John Brooks as the creator and John Sadler, of Sadler & Green, Liverpool, as the developer of the transfer-print- ed style that revolutionised the surface decoration of ceramics for the following two ...
What is transfer printing process?
Transfer printing is a method of decorating pottery or other materials using an engraved copper or steel plate from which a monochrome print on paper is taken which is then transferred by pressing onto the ceramic piece. Pottery decorated using the technique is known as transferware or transfer ware.
How can you tell the age of a Transferware?
The undersides of most pieces of transferware (as well as most other china) show a mark, or backstamp that can help identify the maker, pattern, and year or decade of manufacture.
How can you tell if old china has lead?
If you are using dinnerware manufactured prior to 1971 or manufactured in another country, be sure there are no cracks, chips or damage to the glaze finish where lead can leach out, and look for a label that says it is safe for food use. You also can purchase home lead test kits and test them yourself.
How can you tell if china is hand painted?
4:526:51Hand Painted or Transfer Printed? How to tell the difference ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what you're looking. For is darker patches different shapes different twirls obvious hand paintedMoreSo what you're looking. For is darker patches different shapes different twirls obvious hand painted signs almost imperfections compared to something that's been printed.
Is Flow blue worth anything?
Flow Blue Price Guide Inexpensive pieces start around $10, but some are much more valuable. As with all antique dish values, condition is very important. If you think you may have a valuable piece, you should invest in a professional appraisal.
How do I transfer a design to ceramics?
0:061:03Transferring Pattern on Ceramic Greenware - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd now I'm using a fine ultra fine point sharpie marker to trace over those lines. And then what itMoreAnd now I'm using a fine ultra fine point sharpie marker to trace over those lines. And then what it does is I'll show you in just a second it'll transfer the pattern to your. Piece.
What is transfer paper made of?
Transfer paper is a thin piece of paper coated with wax and pigment. Often, an ink-jet or other printer is used to print the image on the transfer paper. A heat press can transfer the image onto clothing, canvas, or other surface.
How do you make iron on transfers?
Step by Step Guide(1) Choose the design. Any design, logo, or image can potentially be used to print your own t shirt. ... (2) Purchase the transfer paper. ... (3) Mirror images for light-coloured t shirts. ... (4) Print your design. ... (5) Cut out the image. ... (6) Choose and cover the surface. ... (7) Iron on. ... (8) Let it cool.
Which type of dye is used for transfer printing?
disperse dyesThe heat transfer printing technology uses dyes for carrying out the printing operations. One of the most popular dye that finds application are the disperse dyes and basic dyes. Azo dyes are also successfully used. Some of the popular disperse dye colors are yellow, orange, red, violet, blue and brown.
How was antique transferware made?
Transferware is the term given to pottery that has had a pattern applied by transferring the print from a copper plate to a specially sized paper and finally to the pottery body. While produced primarily on earthenware, transfer prints are also found on ironstone, porcelain and bone china.
What vintage dishes contain lead?
The highest likelihood of lead exposure comes from these type of dishes:Traditional glazed terra cotta (clay) dishware from Latin America.Highly decorated fine china or porcelain.Antique dishes made before 1971.Homemade and hand-crafted tableware.Dishes with bright colors or decorations on inside surfaces.More items...•
Is Flow blue worth anything?
Flow Blue Price Guide Inexpensive pieces start around $10, but some are much more valuable. As with all antique dish values, condition is very important. If you think you may have a valuable piece, you should invest in a professional appraisal.
How do you date a willow pattern?
Look for Clues About the Date Some new pieces are unmarked, although they will often say "Made in China" or have another modern backstamp. Early Blue Willow pieces have a softer glaze and a lighter overall feel. Older pieces may have some signs of crazing or light cracking on the surface of the glaze.
Early Transferware
The Victorians were fascinated with foreign places and especially interested in areas outside Europe. Many early transferware patterns show scenes from what they called the "Orient," meaning places to the east of Europe. Popular early themes featured images of the Middle East, India, and China.
How to Identify Transferware
The undersides of most pieces of transferware (as well as most other china) show a mark, or backstamp that can help identify the maker, pattern, and year or decade of manufacture.
Clues to Understanding the Age of Transferware
Sometimes you can make a wild guess as to age, which can help identify a pattern. The cup shown above has no marking on the bottom as the backstamp was only on the missing saucer. Teacups without handles pretty much fazed out by the late 1840s.
Famous Examples of Transferware
Flow Blue is a valuable and interesting example of transferware. Introduced in 1830, Flow Blue was created when the cobalt pigment bled outside the lines creating a slightly, or sometimes extremely smudged look. Some experts claim the flow was an accident at first, while others claim it was intentional.
How to Value Trasferware
The best value for transferware is in old, Victorian examples. Early Asian influenced designs and items featuring images of American historic views from 1820–1840 are in high demand. Though Flow Blue is popular and can be quite valuable, so much was produced that there is a lot of it out there.
For Further Reading
You can also check out the Transferware Collector's Club online for links, book lists, and other information.
What's not early transferware
Let's be clear here - we're not talking about Flow Blue. That became popular much later in the century. This blog focuses on the crisp, clean images on transfer printed white earthenware, extremely popular here from 1800 until about 1860.
How early transferware was made
Transfer printed plates began being produced in England in the 1700s. The process involved etching a print or scene onto a copper plate. These copper plates took a minimum of 6 weeks to produce. Colors, made from natural minerals were pressed onto the copper plate and then "transferred" to plain white earthenware via a type of tissue paper.
Colors
We mostly think of transferware as being blue. But there were many colors produced, especially in the 1830s and 1840s - pink, green, red, brown, and later, multiple colors on a single plate.
Patterns
The patterns created number into the thousands. The earliest ones mimicked those found on fine porcelain imported from the far east. Later, all kinds of historical and pastoral scenes were depicted. The Transferware Collectors Club (www.transcollectorsclub.org) has identified over 15,000 patterns found on English transferware.
Made for America
I remember shopping for transferware in England with English friends some years ago. I kept going for the dark blue prints, which they thought were ugly. They preferred the lighter blues. I found out later that American settlers preferred the dark blue plates, so the British made them for the American market only.
How to tell if it's early transferware
Maker's mark - there are many references identifying where and when a maker worked.
What to Look For
Patterns and scenes that appeal to you. One of the great joys of collecting transferware is the nearly infinite number of patterns available in the market place.
New Collector Questions
Transferware is the term given to pottery that has had a pattern applied by transferring the print from a copper plate to a specially sized paper and finally to the pottery body. While produced primarily on earthenware, transfer prints are also found on ironstone, porcelain and bone china.
How about a brief primer on transferware?
Transferware is pottery. It can be earthenware or porcelain, ironstone or bone china. It’s most distinctive feature is a pattern that has been applied by transferring an etching onto the pottery.
Website Questions
Posting your items for sale on our Transferware “Classifieds” page is easy and free if you are already a club member . Simply click on the “Classifieds Ads" link in the left column under "Members Only" You'll be asked to Login. Next, click on the “post an item” button and list your item for sale.
Special Types of Transferware
Pot Lids are small glazed transfer-printed earthenware containers, consisting of a base and lid, which were made from the 1840s through the early 20th century (some forms of pot lids may date from the second half of the 18th century).
TCC Mission
The Transferware Collectors Club Mission is to educate and to serve as a forum for sharing information about British transfer-printed ceramics. The club is committed to supporting the interests of collectors, dealers, historians, scholars, archaeologists, and those who simply appreciate the beauty and technical proficiency of British transferware.
About Us
In early 1998, Dave Arman, Linda Arman, Judie Siddall, David Hoexter, and Norman Wolfe talked about establishing an American version of the British transferware club, “The Friends of Blue.” They decided they would include all colors of transferware made between 1760 and 1900, not only blue.
