Plaque dates
Dating plaques isn't straightforward. Transfers of some datable events, eg 'Crimea', were popular over a long period of time. Though we can be pretty certain the first plaques with Crimean subjects were produced 1853–1856, copper transfer plates were passed on between potteries and used right into the 20th century. Plaque moulds might have moved from pottery to pottery in a similar way. Later wares are generally lower quality – both the moulds and transfer plates lose their detail over time. Workmanship also deteriorated with poorly applied transfers and clumsy potting.
In the first place, this page will be a list of plaques which are datable through their subject matter, impressed marks, or through painted dates and inscriptions. In each case, I'll give the earliest date I think they could have been made. Numbering refers to the photos, left to right.
In the first place, this page will be a list of plaques which are datable through their subject matter, impressed marks, or through painted dates and inscriptions. In each case, I'll give the earliest date I think they could have been made. Numbering refers to the photos, left to right.
1817–1820
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Maling factory moved to Newcastle and started using Maling impressed mark, 1817.
N.B. the 'Maling' mark was used over a long period. Production of these plaques would have continued into the 1820s and perhaps into the 1830s.
N.B. the 'Maling' mark was used over a long period. Production of these plaques would have continued into the 1820s and perhaps into the 1830s.
1821–1830
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, plaques with the impressed mark 'Dixon, Austin, & Co', 1818–1839.
6, 7, plates with transfers found on plaques and the impressed mark 'Dixon, Austin, & Co', 1818-1839.
8, 9, 10, Spring and Langan fought in heavyweight boxing championship, 1824.
11, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, was buried,1827.
12, 13, 14, plaques with the impressed mark C. C. & Co. for Cornfoot, Colville & Co, 1829–c1832.
6, 7, plates with transfers found on plaques and the impressed mark 'Dixon, Austin, & Co', 1818-1839.
8, 9, 10, Spring and Langan fought in heavyweight boxing championship, 1824.
11, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, was buried,1827.
12, 13, 14, plaques with the impressed mark C. C. & Co. for Cornfoot, Colville & Co, 1829–c1832.
1831–1840
1, William acceded to the throne, crowned with Adelaide his Queen Consort, 1831. Commemorated on a pair of plaques by C. C. & Co. (only Adelaide shown).
2, 3, Earl Grey plaques (portrait and verse), Reform Act passed 1832.
4, George Kinloch elected MP for Dundee, 1832.
5, Wesley plaque with under-glaze inscription on reverse 'H.B. 1832'.
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, Adam Clarke died, commemorated in plaques paired with Wesley, 1832.
12, dated plaque of the Cast Iron Bridge over the Wear, 1835.
13, Queen Victoria's coronation, 1838.
14, small rectangular plaque with hand-painted date, 1838.
15, 16, 17, 18, earliest date Dixon, Phillips & Co could have used their impressed anchor mark, 1839.
19, 20, large Samuel Moore & Co plaques with 'Waverley' transfer, c1840 (Baker).
21, 22, plaques with Robert Maling impress, 1830s–1840s.
23, hand-painted plaque dated 1840.
2, 3, Earl Grey plaques (portrait and verse), Reform Act passed 1832.
4, George Kinloch elected MP for Dundee, 1832.
5, Wesley plaque with under-glaze inscription on reverse 'H.B. 1832'.
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, Adam Clarke died, commemorated in plaques paired with Wesley, 1832.
12, dated plaque of the Cast Iron Bridge over the Wear, 1835.
13, Queen Victoria's coronation, 1838.
14, small rectangular plaque with hand-painted date, 1838.
15, 16, 17, 18, earliest date Dixon, Phillips & Co could have used their impressed anchor mark, 1839.
19, 20, large Samuel Moore & Co plaques with 'Waverley' transfer, c1840 (Baker).
21, 22, plaques with Robert Maling impress, 1830s–1840s.
23, hand-painted plaque dated 1840.
1841–1850
1, 2, HMS Volage served in first opium war, 1839–1842.
3, plaque with hand-painted date, 1846.
4, 5, 6, Richard Cobden plaques, Corn Laws repealed, 1846.
7, 8, 9, engravings by Cruickshank, The Bottle, 1847.
10, Moore & Co plaque commemorating California gold rush, which began 24 January 1848.
11, death of Sir Robert Peel, plaque with 'Dixon, Phillips & Co' surrounding anchor impressed mark, 1850.
12, Carr-attributed plaque with date inscription, 1850.
3, plaque with hand-painted date, 1846.
4, 5, 6, Richard Cobden plaques, Corn Laws repealed, 1846.
7, 8, 9, engravings by Cruickshank, The Bottle, 1847.
10, Moore & Co plaque commemorating California gold rush, which began 24 January 1848.
11, death of Sir Robert Peel, plaque with 'Dixon, Phillips & Co' surrounding anchor impressed mark, 1850.
12, Carr-attributed plaque with date inscription, 1850.
1851–1860
1, impressed 'Dixon Co' mark, Long family history, last death 1851.
2, Marco Polo from illustration in Illustrated London News, 1853.
3, Negro Family plaque with impressed mark C. T. Maling, used from 1853.
4, Gauntlet Clipper Ship from illustration in Illustrated London News, 1853.
5, 6, 'May they ever be united', Crimean war, c1853–1856.
7, Moore and Co Aesop series, registered December 1853.
8, 9, Garibaldi visited Tyneside, 1854.
10, Duke of Wellington served in the Baltic, pairs with La Bretagne, launched 1855.
11, Moore & Co hand-painted plaque, Hugh Ross drowned, 1856.
12, Star of Tasmania, launched in 1856.
13, plaque with hand-painted date, 1858.
14, SS Great Eastern, launched 1858.
15, plaque with hand-painted verse and date, 1859.
16, centenary of Robert Burns' birth, 1859.
17, new bridge over the Wear opened, 1859.
18, Great Australia from illustration in The Illustrated London News, 1860.
2, Marco Polo from illustration in Illustrated London News, 1853.
3, Negro Family plaque with impressed mark C. T. Maling, used from 1853.
4, Gauntlet Clipper Ship from illustration in Illustrated London News, 1853.
5, 6, 'May they ever be united', Crimean war, c1853–1856.
7, Moore and Co Aesop series, registered December 1853.
8, 9, Garibaldi visited Tyneside, 1854.
10, Duke of Wellington served in the Baltic, pairs with La Bretagne, launched 1855.
11, Moore & Co hand-painted plaque, Hugh Ross drowned, 1856.
12, Star of Tasmania, launched in 1856.
13, plaque with hand-painted date, 1858.
14, SS Great Eastern, launched 1858.
15, plaque with hand-painted verse and date, 1859.
16, centenary of Robert Burns' birth, 1859.
17, new bridge over the Wear opened, 1859.
18, Great Australia from illustration in The Illustrated London News, 1860.
1861–1875
1, tricentenary of William Shakespeare's birth, 1864.
2, plaque titled 'Snapper and the Rabbits', from 'Our Dumb Companions', published 1864.
3, 4, 5, plaques with impressed initials 'G & A'; Galloway and Atkinson started the Albion Pottery, 1864.
6, 7, Garrison Pottery closed and copper transfer plates passed to Scott's, 1865.
8, 9, 10, Garrison Pottery closed and copper transfer plates passed to Moore's, 1865.
11, 12, 13, Garrison Pottery closed and copper transfer plates passed to Carr, 1865.
14, SS London sank in the Bay of Biscay, 1866.
15, plaque with hand-painted date, 1875. NB Baker gives the date as c1860 for the introduction of orange lustre.
2, plaque titled 'Snapper and the Rabbits', from 'Our Dumb Companions', published 1864.
3, 4, 5, plaques with impressed initials 'G & A'; Galloway and Atkinson started the Albion Pottery, 1864.
6, 7, Garrison Pottery closed and copper transfer plates passed to Scott's, 1865.
8, 9, 10, Garrison Pottery closed and copper transfer plates passed to Moore's, 1865.
11, 12, 13, Garrison Pottery closed and copper transfer plates passed to Carr, 1865.
14, SS London sank in the Bay of Biscay, 1866.
15, plaque with hand-painted date, 1875. NB Baker gives the date as c1860 for the introduction of orange lustre.
1897–1918
1, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 1897.
2, Hedworth Lambton, Relief of Ladysmith, 1900.
3, 4, Boer War generals, 1899–1902.
5, 6, 7, Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, 1902.
8, Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, 1911.
9, 10, Peace, 1918.
2, Hedworth Lambton, Relief of Ladysmith, 1900.
3, 4, Boer War generals, 1899–1902.
5, 6, 7, Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, 1902.
8, Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, 1911.
9, 10, Peace, 1918.
