1880s

Potter: Mercer Pottery Co.

Biography

Mercer Pottery Co. was founded in 1868 and in operation until the 1930's.  The head of the company was John Moses who claimed to have made the first semi-porcelain ware in the United States.

Location: Trenton, New Jersey
Origins: American
Manufacturing Era: 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 20th Century
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Dinnerware
Treatments: Gold Lustre
Body Styles:
American Coronet
Motifs:
Moss Rose

Potter: Green & Clay

Biography

A Green and Clay mark found on Tea Leaf dates the production form 1888-1891.  Ironstone wares by Green and Clay decorated with non-Tea Leaf designs are found on a body style similar to Fishook by Alfred Meakin.

Location: Longton, Staffordshire
Origins: British
Manufacturing Era: 1880s, 1890s
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Dinnerware
Treatments: Copper Lustre
Body Styles:
Hexagon - Banded Handle
Unknown
Motifs:
Moss Rose

Body Style: Hawthorn

Biography

Wilkinson's round body style is embellished with stylized hawthorn leaves at the handle and finial terminals. Because of the three-toed lustre treatment on the leaves, some collectors nicknamed this style "Claw."

Naming Source: Club Named
Manufacturing Era: 1880s, 1890s
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Bath, Dinnerware
Treatments: Copper Lustre
Footprints/Shapes: Oval, Round

Body Style: Diamond Simplicity

Biography

Diamond Simplicity is a variation of the Simplicity body style. It features an embossed diamond prominently displayed on teh handles and finials.

We know that Powell and Bishop decorated this shape with a Rose motif while Anthony Shaw used lustre bands. It is possible that other motifs will be found on this body style in the future.

Naming Source: Club Named
Manufacturing Era: 1870s, 1880s
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Bath, Dinnerware
Treatments: Copper Lustre
Footprints/Shapes: Round

Body Style: Basketweave

Biography

This late square style has intricate basketweaving embossed in the lower third of holloware bodies. Basketweave has become one of the most collectible of the late Shaw products.

Registered in 1887.

Naming Source: Club Named
Manufacturing Era: 1880s, 1890s
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Bath, Dinnerware
Treatments: Copper Lustre
Footprints/Shapes: Oblong, Square

Body Style: Grape Vine

Biography

A rare body style with copper lustre and Teaberry motif. There is grape embossing surrounding the finial of tureens and unusual spiral handles on handled pieces. Livesley and Powell produced this ware in the 1850's but Clementson may have produced their version later.

Naming Source: Club Named
Manufacturing Era: 1850s, 1880s
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Dinnerware
Treatments: Copper Lustre
Footprints/Shapes: Oval

Body Style: Cable Shape

Biography

One of the most popular and available bulbous body styles, it is said to have been potted to commemorate the laying of the Trans-Atlantic cable.

Naming Source: Factory Named
Manufacturing Era: 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 20th Century
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Bath, Dinnerware
Treatments: Copper Lustre, Gold Lustre
Footprints/Shapes: Oblong, Other, Oval, Round

Body Style: Bamboo

Biography

A square style with handles and finials resembling bamboo stalks, this was one of the most widely produced body styles. Holloware pieces were available in straight-sided style as well as a slightly bulbous version. Bath set pieces such as ewers and master waste jars are often round and bulbous.

Registered in 1873.

Naming Source: Club Named
Manufacturing Era: 1880s
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Bath, Dinnerware
Treatments: Copper Lustre
Footprints/Shapes: Oblong, Round