Hand-painting around transfer
Plaques with hand-painted birth dates, deaths and other anniversaries are very attractive to collectors. The three plaques above, attributed to Scott's, from the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums collection, help us to date this particular form as circa 1860. A word of caution though, birthdates might pre-date a plaque and sometimes by many years, eg if the plaque was presented as a 50th birthday present. Dates of death are perhaps more helpful in terms of dating, although the third plaque was likely commissioned 20 years after William Burn died.
Marriage plaques, like those above, were most often commissioned at the date of the event, and are therefore more useful in terms of dating.
Census records show James and Barbara Fallowfield as farmers residing in Lunds, High Abbotside in 1871. So just west of Hawes in North Yorkshire. They had at least 6 surviving children since their marriage 14 years before.
Census records from 1881 show a smaller family group living in Marsett someway South West of Bainbridge.
The two plaques above now reside on different continents. Perhaps there is a third 'Quick' sibling's name somewhere on a 'Thou God...' plaque. It seems likely that these were both commissioned in 1875 (the date of birth of the younger child). Thanks to Dr S Nield for providing the following information:
On your site, you have pictures of a pair of plaques which have birthdates and names specially inscribed on them: Mary Lizzie Quick and William Daniel Quick, and you mention that there might be a third [plaque with another sibling] out there somewhere. Actually, there could be two more: one for their sister Henrietta (born 1882/3) and one for their brother George (born 1879/80). I looked them up in the census records: they were the children of Cornish fisherman William D. Quick and his wife Mary Noall, both born in 1840 or so, and they all lived in St Ives. (Mary Lizzie from the plaque married a man called John Thomas in 1888).
Interestingly, there is no Sunderland link. So perhaps these inscriptions were commissioned through a local distributor, or a sailor carried the instructions to earn some money on the side.
On your site, you have pictures of a pair of plaques which have birthdates and names specially inscribed on them: Mary Lizzie Quick and William Daniel Quick, and you mention that there might be a third [plaque with another sibling] out there somewhere. Actually, there could be two more: one for their sister Henrietta (born 1882/3) and one for their brother George (born 1879/80). I looked them up in the census records: they were the children of Cornish fisherman William D. Quick and his wife Mary Noall, both born in 1840 or so, and they all lived in St Ives. (Mary Lizzie from the plaque married a man called John Thomas in 1888).
Interestingly, there is no Sunderland link. So perhaps these inscriptions were commissioned through a local distributor, or a sailor carried the instructions to earn some money on the side.
Hand-painted plaques
Two pretty Sherrif Hill attributed plaques commerorating the death of a 6-month old baby, Betsy, and perhaps her 25 year old father, Robert, just over a year later. Touching reminders of how hard life could be in the 19th century.
Above are two superb hand-painted plaques with copper and black borders. Inner border of acorns and leaves. Dated 1840.
The Tennants Auctions catalogue description for the plaque above is as follows:
A Middlesbrough Pottery Temperance Pledge Plaque, with gilt and puce frame border, inscribed OUR TEMPERANCE PLEDGE We agree that we will not use intoxicating Liquors as a beverage nor traffic in them, that we will not provide them as articles of entertainment, nor for persons in our employment, and that in all suitable ways we will discountenance their use. THOMAS COOKE, ELIZABETH COOKE, & MARY JANE COOKE, Dec 11th 1840., impressed factory mark MIDDLESBRO' POTTERY, red painted 1850, 25cm square (damaged)1851 census the Cooke family are living at 125 Bridge Street, Middlesbrough, Thomas Cooke born around 1808 in Tunstall, Staffordshire and is listed as an Earthenware Fireman. Wife Elizabeth Cooke born in Co. Durham, Durham and daughter Mary Jane Cooke born in Hilton. Above a rare Middlesbrough plaque with a Temperance pledge.
Thanks to Ian Holmes for the following additional information:
The small amount I have read about Middlesbrough pottery includes mention of some personalities but does not include Thomas Cooke or his family. However in my 1897 "Temperance Standard Bearers" by PT Winskill, Thomas Cooke is listed as:
"... for many years contractor and manager at the Middlesborough Pottery, Commercial Street. He signed the pledge in 1840 ... active member Middlesborough Temperance Society ... Temperance Hotel ... Oddfellows Hall ... Wesleyan Methodist... died 1896 aged 86".
A Middlesbrough Pottery Temperance Pledge Plaque, with gilt and puce frame border, inscribed OUR TEMPERANCE PLEDGE We agree that we will not use intoxicating Liquors as a beverage nor traffic in them, that we will not provide them as articles of entertainment, nor for persons in our employment, and that in all suitable ways we will discountenance their use. THOMAS COOKE, ELIZABETH COOKE, & MARY JANE COOKE, Dec 11th 1840., impressed factory mark MIDDLESBRO' POTTERY, red painted 1850, 25cm square (damaged)1851 census the Cooke family are living at 125 Bridge Street, Middlesbrough, Thomas Cooke born around 1808 in Tunstall, Staffordshire and is listed as an Earthenware Fireman. Wife Elizabeth Cooke born in Co. Durham, Durham and daughter Mary Jane Cooke born in Hilton. Above a rare Middlesbrough plaque with a Temperance pledge.
Thanks to Ian Holmes for the following additional information:
The small amount I have read about Middlesbrough pottery includes mention of some personalities but does not include Thomas Cooke or his family. However in my 1897 "Temperance Standard Bearers" by PT Winskill, Thomas Cooke is listed as:
"... for many years contractor and manager at the Middlesborough Pottery, Commercial Street. He signed the pledge in 1840 ... active member Middlesborough Temperance Society ... Temperance Hotel ... Oddfellows Hall ... Wesleyan Methodist... died 1896 aged 86".
The plaques above have distinctive leaf and flower borders. The first plaque is attributed to Moore's from the 1860s. The second plaque is in fact a fragment with three of its edges trimmed off, and also likely Moore's. The text, leaves and flowers on the third plaque are unlike any I've seen before, but the lustre decoration again has similarities with Moore's plaques.
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Susan Ellnor Richardson
Died March 23d 1859 In Robes of Innocence & Love Her Virgin Soul is drest And all the angels host above Rejoice to see her blest. Then let us dry our mournfull tears From gloomy grief refrain In heaven our Sister now appears And shall for ever reign |
Samuel Mewes
Born Aust 10th 1774 This plaque was not made in 1774. It was likely commissioned as an 80th or 90th birthday present. |
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MY FRIEND.
Jesus is crying. Son and Daughter give me thine heart And you shall have a habitation in heaven with these that are gone before you Amen |
The first three lines indistinguishable...
Married at Littleham April 26th 1829 ///// Mary Ann Long born March, 4th 1830 John Puncombe Long born February 1st 1832 Susan Jane Long born February 28th 1834 William Long born June 7th 1836 Henry Puncombe Long born July 19th 1838 Caroline Da...s Long born February 10th 1840 George Long born December 8th 1843 Henry Long born May 31st 1846 Edwin Charles Long born February 5th 1849 Charlotte Sophia Long born October 14th 1851 ///// Henry Puncombe Long. Died May 29th 1841 |
I am indebted to Norman Lowe for finding the following information about the Long family in the 1851 census:
Family living at 48, Albion Street, Withy Combe Rawleigh, Exmouth, Devon
Family living at 48, Albion Street, Withy Combe Rawleigh, Exmouth, Devon
So it looks as if John and Anne were married at Littleham in 1829, when he was 21 and she was 18. They had their first child, Mary, a year later. By 1851, just before when the plaque was made, there were 10 of them living at the same address. Their third child, Henry Puncombe Long, died in 1841, not yet 3 years old. But a new child, Charlotte, was born shortly after the census, bringing the household total to 11. John Long was a mason employing one man. His boys are also listed as masons, working from as young as 14. The girls worked as lace makers. The younger children are charmingly listed as scholars. John perhaps commissioned the plaque, satisfied that his procreative duty was done and there would be no more children. His 40 year old wife, Anne, after giving birth to 10 children, was probably mightily relieved! Read more by clicking here.
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A Present to
the Memory of George Smith Son of George & Betsey Smith Who departed this Life Mar 4th 1863 Aged 3 Years. |
Although the left plaque has the transfer 'PRESENT FROM HARTLEPOOL.', it has similar hand-painted lustre embellishments to those above. Both the above plaques have a beautiful simplicity. The text on the right plaque reads, 'SARAH, NIXON, Born Septr 4th 1852'.
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Hugh Ross Aged 45
Drownded In Sunderland River January 24 1856 With impressed mark 'Moore & Co' |
These hand-painted plaques are inscribed on the reverse. The first plaque is signed George Lori Winchester May 1 1833. The other is signed George Lori Winchester May 1 1833 around the words fear God and honour The
King. Probably Staffordshire.
King. Probably Staffordshire.