I first became aware of Historical Staffordshire while looking for information about my Enoch Wood's English Scenery China pattern. Enoch Wood & Sons were important contributors to this Pottery Era. These beautiful and interesting pieces were spawned from the strong sense of patriotism that was prevalent in the United States in the early nineteenth century.

The potters of Staffordshire (which included Enoch Wood, of course) were inspired by the pride and patriotism they saw . They rose to the occasion by creating some transferware designs for the American Market. These popular designs commemorated American Patriots, historical events and gorgeous landscapes. These dishes are actively collected today.

Being a Bostonian myself for the last 35 years, I was personally taken by the designs that were created depicting old Boston. Some of these pieces are currently valued at thousands of dollars,and so alas, I must contend myself with looking at them in museums or in books. The example I give here, isn't of Boston. It's a Soup Tureen which depicts New York Scenes, but it's by my favorite potter, Enoch Wood, and so I choose it as my example of one of the more expensive pieces. This tureen is valued between $7,000 and $9,000.

However, many of the Boston Area pieces are not so expensive and so I've been able to start a very modest collection of my own. Some of my pieces are newer replicas, but then, I'm choosing my pieces on the basis of how much I personally like the plates or scenes depicted, with little regard to their worth to 'real' collectors.

Without further ado, may I present Kathy L's collection of Boston Historical ware...

The first piece I acquired was this lovely plate of Boston's 'Old North Church'.
I was first attracted to it by the border, which was so similar to my English Scenery pattern's. Then I looked closer and realized the picture in the center was of the Old North Church on Boston's Salem Street as it appeared in 1775. As the back of this Wedgwood made plate states, Paul Revere's lanterns were displayed here. The back also has a copyright date of 1899.

A recent purchase was this lovely piece depicting The Old Boston Harbor. Much of this has since been filled in and Faneuil Hall no longer sits beside the Harbor.

We've also added the following :

State Street and the Old State House in Boston, 1888.
Made by Wedgwood

Abother of the Old State House.. This one after it's restoration in 1910.

The back of this old 9½" Wedgwood plate, titles it as :
"Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor, 1620"

This lovely view of Boston as it looked in 1768, is a Wedgwood Reproduction made for Shreve, Crump & Lowe.

Faneuil Hall
No. 1 of the Staffordshire, England "Ye Olde Historical Pottery" Series
Reg. No. 553308

~~~~~~~~~~

And our most recent acquisition :

This is a very modest collection, one that I hope to see grow as new and interesting affordable pieces catch my eye. Thanks for looking.

Kathy L