This post presents the fourth part of the quiz, based on the fourth display at the Markeaton Park Family Festivities event. The first post in the series (Introduction) provides more information on the activity; and an activity summary provided in the Part 1 Quiz Post.

Many sherds of nineteenth-century transfer-printed earthenware were found at Markeaton Hall; it’s likely that they included some decorated with a similar pattern to this example. This type of pottery wasn’t the cheapest available: decorated earthenware was usually more expensive than undecorated; and this and similar refined earthenware would’ve been unaffordable for many.

One particular version of this pattern became very popular at this time – and continues to be used today – making ceramics decorated with this design difficult to date, when there are no maker’s marks.

Do you know what this popular pattern is commonly called?

This object has a blue-tinted glaze (the addition of cobalt both in imitation of Chinese porcelain; and acting as an optical brightener – comparable to the previously-widespread use of ‘laundry blue’ with whites); and it’s relatively light weight in comparison to later clear-glazed white-bodied earthenware (clear glaze becoming common from the 1820s, and white-bodied earthenware from the 1830s). This suggests that it’s a type of earthenware known today as ‘Pearlware’, dating it to c. 1780s – 1840. The design dates it to or after the 1790s; and print colour to or after the 1810s – 1820s (clear glaze seeming to have become common in the latter decade). Together, the evidence suggests that it was manufactured c. 1820 – 1840.

• What do you think this object would have been used for / how do you think it’d have been used?
• Where / in which room(s) of a house?
• Can you think how it might have been used at, or in preparing for, Christmas, in particular?

Clues

Think you have the answers? Find out if you’re right! (Available Sat. 7 Dec. 2024).

Next: Part 5 – available tomorrow (Sat. 7 Dec. 2024).