Broad Street Works
"Aurora" print

There is an element of doubt whether this print was introduced under Ridgway & Morley, or under Francis Morley & Co. The first coloured-in example in the pattern description book is pattern 3/1119, but Francis Morley patterns only start at 3/1116, and there are "Aurora" Nos. 1-7 in the named and numbered series that were presumably issued before any examples in the pattern description book. Until, however, there is something definitive to indicate the earlier partnership, I have taken it to be a Francis Morley print.

 

Francis Morley & Co.

"Aurora" red

"Aurora" purple

"Aurora" flow mulberry

"Aurora" 'No. 2'

'Aurora No. 3'

"Aurora No. 5"

Pattern 3/1199 "Aurora"

G. L. Ashworth & Bros. Ltd.

Pattern B/9466 'Aurora'

 

"Aurora" red

The creamer is 83mm lip to handle and 92mm tall. Earthenware.

Aurora creamer left side

Aurora creamer lip side

Aurora creamer richt side

Aurora creamer handle side

Aurora creamer top

Aurora creamer base

The unhandled belled Grecian shape cup & saucer. Earthenware.

Aurora Grecian tea cup and saucer

The saucer is 146mm in diameter. Earthenware.

Aurora Grecian saucer front

Aurora Grecian saucer back

Aurora Grecian saucer backstamp

The unhandled cup is 98mm in diameter and 67mm tall. Earthenware.

Aurora Grecian tea cup top

Aurora Grecian tea cup side

Aurora Grecian tea cup base

The unhandled 'Franklin' shape cup & saucer. Earthenware.

Aurora Franklin tea cup and saucer

The saucer is 146mm in diameter. Earthenware.

Aurora Franklin saucer front

Aurora Franklin saucer back

Aurora Franklin saucer backstamp

The unhandled cup is 102mm in diameter and 74mm tall. Earthenware.

Aurora Franklin tea cup top

Aurora Franklin tea cup side

Aurora Franklin tea cup base

The 'Polygonal' shape 8 inch muffin is 206mm in diameter. Earthenware.

Aurora Polygonal muffin front

Aurora Polygonal muffin back

Aurora Polygonal muffin marks

The impressed mark "F. MORLEY & CO" is infrequently seen. The strange squiggle would appear to be a tally mark.

Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2020

 

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"Aurora" purple

The unhandled 'Franklin' shape cup & saucer. Earthenware.

Aurora Franklin tea cup and saucer

The saucer is 149mm in diameter. Earthenware.

Aurora Franklin saucer front

Aurora Franklin saucer back

Aurora Franklin saucer marks

The unhandled cup is 102mm in diameter and 73mm tall. Earthenware.

Aurora Franklin tea cup top

Aurora Franklin tea cup side

Aurora Franklin tea cup base

Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2020

 

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"Aurora" flow mulberry

The dinner plate is 267mm in diameter. Earthenware.1

Aurora dinner plate front

Aurora dinner plate back

Aurora dinner plate backstamp

Photos © Angela Grant 2019

 

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"Aurora" 'No. 2'

In the Francis Morley & Co. 'Description Book for 1850' 'Aurora' is listed as having 7 variants in the named and numbered series. For No.2:
'Aurora No.2 Printed in pink painted in blue green & buff.1

The 'Polygonal' shape 8 inch muffin is 206mm in diameter. Earthenware.

Aurora No.2 muffin front

Aurora No.2 muffin back

Aurora No.2 muffin backstamp

No sign of a pattern number or workman's mark on this muffin.

Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2020

 

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'Aurora No. 3'

In the Francis Morley & Co. 'Description Book for 1850' 'Aurora' is listed as having 7 variants in the named and numbered series. For No.3:
'Aurora No.3 Printed in purple painted exactly as No.2'
No.2 is painted in 'blue, green & buff'.1

The 'Prussian' shape 8 inch muffin is 203mm in diameter. Earthenware.

Aurora No.3 muffin front

Aurora No.3 muffin back

Aurora No.3 muffin marks

There are tally marks but no pattern number.

The 'Polygonal' shape dessert plate or twiffler is 232mm in diameter. Earthenware.

Aurora No.3 dessert plate front

Aurora No.3 dessert plate back

Aurora No.3 dessert plate marks

Tally marks at top left and bottom right, but no pattern number on this plate.

Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2020

The coffee pot is 8.5 inches tall. Earthenware.

Aurora No.3 coffee pot top

Aurora No.3 coffee pot side

Aurora No.3 coffee pot handle

Aurora No.3 coffee pot base

Aurora No.3 coffee pot marks

Is the "3" intended as a pattern number?

Photos © Jeremy Brunaccioni 2020

 

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"Aurora No. 5"

In the Francis Morley 'Description Book for 1850' it states that 'Aurora No. 5' is 'Printed in Marine Green, painted in pink. M[att] blue, green & buff'.

The dessert plate or twiffler is 235mm in diameter. Earthenware.

Aurora No.5 dessert plate front

Aurora No.5 dessert plate rear

Aurora No.5 dessert plate marks

It appears that the decorator aimed to write the "5" under the backstamp, but wasn't paying sufficient attention to which way up the backstamp was!

Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2020

 

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Pattern 3/1199
"Aurora"

The Pattern Description Book entry reads:
'Table Prussn EW. Printed in Mulberry, nothing on Biscuit, white Edge. Aurora printed in Mulberry & flown, enamell'd various colours. O[paque] orange line at edge.'1

The soup plate is 266mm in diameter. Earthenware.

Pattern 3/1199 soup plate front

Pattern 3/1199 soup plate back

Pattern 3/1199 soup plate marks

Photos © Angela Grant 2019

 

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Pattern B/9466 'Aurora'

The meat dish is 244mm long, 200mm wide, and 38mm tall. Earthenware.

Pattern B/9466 meat dish front

Pattern B/9466 meat dish front detail

Pattern B/9466 meat dish front detail 2

Pattern B/9466 meat dish back

Pattern B/9466 meat dish pattern number

Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2023

 

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Notes

1. All entries from the factory pattern description and pattern books are reproduced courtesy of The V&A/Wedgwood Collection.