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.
G. L. Ashworth & Bros. Ltd.
"Aurora" red
The creamer is 83mm lip to handle and 92mm tall. Earthenware.
The unhandled belled Grecian shape cup & saucer. Earthenware.
The saucer is 146mm in diameter. Earthenware.
The unhandled cup is 98mm in diameter and 67mm tall. Earthenware.
The unhandled 'Franklin' shape cup & saucer. Earthenware.
The saucer is 146mm in diameter. Earthenware.
The unhandled cup is 102mm in diameter and 74mm tall. Earthenware.
The 'Polygonal' shape 8 inch muffin is 206mm in diameter. Earthenware.
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.
The saucer is 149mm in diameter. Earthenware.
The unhandled cup is 102mm in diameter and 73mm tall. Earthenware.
Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2020
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"Aurora" flow mulberry
The dinner plate is 267mm in diameter. Earthenware.1
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.
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.
There are tally marks but no pattern number.
The 'Polygonal' shape dessert plate or twiffler is 232mm in diameter. Earthenware.
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.
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.
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.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern B/9466 'Aurora'
The meat dish is 244mm long, 200mm wide, and 38mm tall. Earthenware.
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.