Antique Staffordshire Holy Water Font, Christ on the Cross
View Similar Items
Antique Staffordshire Holy Water Font, Christ on the Cross
About the Item
- Creator:Staffordshire (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Width: 7 in (17.78 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
- Style:High Victorian (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1860s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Well cared for antique condition.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:Seller: 81141stDibs: LU1943316549222
Staffordshire
Thanks to its reserves of clay, lead, salt and coal, Staffordshire, England, has been a center for ceramics since the early 17th century. The county was home at one time to hundreds of pottery workshops and as many as 4,000 bottle-shaped kilns that operated year-round. The term “Staffordshire Potteries” refers to the industrial area of Stoke-on-Trent — comprising the towns Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall — where most of the production was concentrated.
In 1720, potter John Astbury discovered that he could make what would later be called creamware by adding ground flint powder to the local red clay. Because resources were so plentiful in Staffordshire, local potters could afford to experiment, working to refine their techniques and designs. One such innovator was Thomas Whieldon, an important 18th-century potter known today for his tortoiseshell ware, whose brilliant glazed surface of caramel, yellow and green hues was made with copper and manganese compounds. Whieldon operated the Fenton Low workshop, making coffee- and teapots, dinner services and even ornamental knife hafts. He was an influential figure: Josiah Spode apprenticed at the workshop, and Josiah Wedgwood partnered with Whieldon for five years before establishing his eponymous firm in 1759.
Wedgwood is perhaps the best known of the Staffordshire potters. The firm produced a line of light-colored earthenware for Queen Charlotte, who liked it so much that she granted permission to market it under the moniker Queen’s Ware, which despite the name, was designed for everyday use. In the same regal vein, in 1773, Wedgwood created the 954-piece Frog service for Catherine the Great, of Russia. The company is also known for its black stoneware, Black Basalt, which imitates the color and shapes of Etruscan vases; Jasperware, with its classical reliefs applied on the unglazed body; and pearlware.
By the end of the 18th century, Staffordshire was the primary producer of ceramics for the American colonies, even creating patriotic wares celebrating independence for this market. The imagery on Staffordshire ceramics became more standardized the mid-18th century with the advent of transferware, in which a design etched on a copper plate is printed on tissue paper, which is then used to transfer the wet ink onto the ceramic surface. This technique enabled artisans to decorate their wares with complex scenes that wrapped around an object’s surface and make several copies of popular patterns.
The Staffordshire potters also produced decorative figurines, such as this charming pair of cows dating from the 19th century. Particularly popular in Great Britain were pieces with hunting imagery, such as this George IV porcelain stirrup cup in the shape of a fox head wearing a gilt collar inscribed with the word “Tallyho.” Among the many whimsical vessels produced is this mid-19th-century frog mug. The exterior is painted with a charming scene of people picking fruit on one side and ladies on a garden swing on the other side, while inside a molded frog’s head at the bottom of the mug makes a gurgling sound when the the beverage has been almost completely consumed.
- Staffordshire Pottery Flatback Model of Balmoral CastleBy StaffordshireLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireThe hollow potted castle is mounted on a long oval shaped base molded in relief with swirl patterning with a raised molded banner reading BALMORAL CASTLE...Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Pottery
MaterialsPottery
- Staffordshire Georgian Two Pearlware Religious Printed Childs Plates with VerseBy StaffordshireLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireTwo fine English Georgian, probably Staffordshire, child’s pearlware plates decorated with religious scenes and verse dating from the early 19th century. The finely potted plates are of octagonal shape both with relief molded fruit and floral designs to the rim, one hand painted and other simply glazed rim but with a pink lustre edge. Due to the edge patterning being the same we believe the plates to have originated from the same pottery. Both plates have printed religious scenes to the center with printed prayers, possibly as teaching aids for children. One has a scene of Christ rising from the dead with a prayer reading ‘Behold him rising from the grave. Behold him raised on high. He pleads his merit there to save Transgressor doom’d to die.’ The scene shows soldiers, some sleeping around the entrance to the tomb. The second plate shows a child reading...Category
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Religious Items
MaterialsPottery
$483 / setFree Shipping - Antique Russian Onyx and Cloissoné Benetier 'Holy Water Font'Located in New Orleans, LAA lovely water font with an unusual silver and gold orthodox church center medallion.Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Religious Items
MaterialsOnyx
- Antique Large Bisque Porcelain Holy Water Font with AngelsLocated in Antwerp, BERare antique large bisque porcelain holy water font with angels. A beautiful quality large antique holy water font for the wall, made of bisque porcelain. Depiction of three angels ...Category
20th Century Italian Religious Items
MaterialsPorcelain
- 19th Century French Brass & Champleve Cross with Holy Water Font on Green MarbleLocated in Dallas, TXThis colorful marble and brass cross with holy water recipient was created in France, circa 1880. The antique cross features beautiful, intricate cloisonné work with enamel, stone an...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Religious Items
MaterialsMulti-gemstone, Marble, Brass
- 19th Century Limestone Holy Water FontLocated in Zedelgem, BE19th century Beautiful little holy water font in limestone (Italian church).Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Louis XV Religious Items
MaterialsLimestone