Bedford Works
Milan Jugs

For a long time wares made by the Ridgways at the Bedford Works were thought to have been made by Dudson. There was clearly co-operation between the two factories and it is difficult to establish exactly how far that went. There have, however, been doubts expressed as to whether a factory the size of Hope Street with its two tiny bottle ovens (the large oven was not completed until 1872) could have been capable of manufacturing the wide range of wares attributed to them. Tony Curnock was the first to express the opinion that the ebony wares attributed to Dudson were made by Ridgway at the Bedford Works. These wares share many shapes with the jasper wares. I became convinced of the matter after reading Jewitt's The Ceramic Art of Great Britain (1878). Volume 2 where he describes the products of both the Bedford Works and Dudson's Hope Street Works. Jewitt states that both factories produced moulded ware and mosaic ware, but only the Bedford Works produced jasper ware and jet ware, and he praises both wares with effusive language. Whilst the comment on jet or ebony ware was to be expected after Tony Curnock's article, that on jasper ware was not. All jasper wares were, up to then, thought to have been produced at Hope Street. It now seems clear that Dudson made no jasper ware between the 1830s and March 1882. It appears that, after James Dudson completed the construction of the large bottle oven in 1872, he was looking for additional wares to produce. It is on record that he experimented with simplifying the production of mosaic and jasper wares. The Ridgways must have agreed to allow him to produce some mosaic ware from the mid-1870s and jasper ware from March 1882. Audrey Dudson has admitted that Dudson only started to advertise jasper wares in 1882. Both factories continued in production (presumably with some sort of joint marketing agreement), and the Ridgways seem to have withdrawn from the market around 1891, leaving Dudson in sole production. Only Ridgway production will be found listed here. Dudson manufactured wares will be found in the Dudson section of 'Other Manufacturers'.

 

E. J. Ridgway (& Son)
Ridgway, Sparks & Ridgway

 

Impressed Number Series

Pattern 1 "MILAN"

Pattern 5 "MILAN"

Pattern 6 "MILAN"

Pattern 12 "MILAN / PATENT MOSAIC"

Pattern 27 "MILAN" "E. J. RIDGWAY"

Pattern 47 "MILAN"

Pattern 48 "MILAN"

Pattern 50 "PATENT MOSAIC / MILAN"

Pattern 51 "MILAN"

Pattern 52 "MILAN"

Pattern 56 "MILAN" "E. J. RIDGWAY"

Pattern 77 "MILAN"

Pattern 79 "MILAN"

Pattern 131 "MILAN"

Pattern 198 "MILAN"

Incised Number Series

Pattern 8

Pattern 80

Pattern 229

Pattern 990

Pattern 992

Fractional Number Series

Pattern 2/5600 "MILAN 1"

Pattern 2/8118

Pattern 2/8158 "MILAN 609"

Pattern 3/6030

Pattern 3/8794

 

Impressed Number Series

 

Pattern 1 "MILAN"

The jug is 190mm tall. White coloured earthenware covered with blue slip.

Turned Milan jug left side

Turned Milan jug left side detail

Turned Milan jug lip side

Turned Milan jug right side

Turned Milan jug handle side

Turned Milan jug top

The interior is full glaze whilst the exterior is smear glaze.

Turned Milan jug base

Turned Milan jug marks

The impressed mark "MILAN" appears to be the same as on the "E. J. RIDGWAY" marked Pattern 27 jug below, which implies that they were both made in the same factory. The impressed "1" appears to be a pattern number as it is consistent with other 'Milan' jugs with the same decoration.

Photos © Anonymous 2021

The jug with Britannia Metal lid is 200mm tall. White coloured earthenware covered with blue slip.

Pattern 1 BM lidded jug left side

Pattern 1 BM lidded jug right side

Pattern 1 BM lidded jug base

Pattern 1 BM lidded jug marks

In the final smoothing of the base the impressed "MILAN" has almost been lost, but there is just enough left to see that was what must have been there.

Photos © Paul Fawcett 2021

 

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Pattern 5 "MILAN"

The jug is 120mm across and 150mm tall. White coloured earthenware covered with blue slip and white sprigging.

Pattern 5 jug left side

Pattern 5 jug right side

Pattern 5 jug base

Pattern 5 jug marks

Photos © Joan Cowan 2021

 

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Pattern 6 "MILAN"

The two jugs. White coloured earthenware covered with blue slip and white sprigs.

Pattern 6 two jugs left side.

The jug is 165mm tall. White coloured earthenware covered with blue slip and white sprigs.

Pattern 6 jug 1 left side.

Pattern 6 jug 1 right side.

Pattern 6 jug 1 handle side.

Pattern 6 jug 1 base.

Pattern 6 jug 1 marks.

An impressed "24" size marker can just be seen in the side of the footrim.

The jug is 140mm tall excluding lid. White coloured earthenware covered with blue slip and white sprigs.

Pattern 6 jug 2 left side.

Pattern 6 jug 2 right side.

Pattern 6 jug 2 handle side.

Pattern 6 jug 2 base.

Pattern 6 jug 2 marks.

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

 

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Pattern 12 "MILAN / PATENT MOSAIC"

The jug is 203mm tall. White stoneware covered with blue slip and white & blue mosaic work and white incised lines.

Pattern 12 jug left side

Pattern 12 jug left side detail

Pattern 12 jug right side

Pattern 12 jug handle side

Pattern 12 jug handle detail

A rare example of a Milan jug with five points to the end of the handle instead of three.

Pattern 12 jug base

Pattern 12 jug impressed marks

Is the number "12" a pattern number or a size number? It is about right for the size and Pattern 50 below looks suspiciously similar. Only experience shows an impressed number with "PATENT MOSAIC" is always the pattern number.

Photos © Paul S Fawcett 2022

 

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Pattern 27 "MILAN" ("E. J. RIDGWAY")

The jug is 195mm tall and 260mm at the widest point. White coloured earthenware covered with blue slip and white sprigs.

E. J. Ridgway marked jug left side

E. J. Ridgway marked jug left side and top

The interior is full glaze whilst the exterior is smear glaze.

E. J. Ridgway marked jug handle side

E. J. Ridgway marked jug base

E. J. Ridgway marked jug marks

The number "27" appears to be a pattern number. See also the turned jug above.

Photos © Tony Curnock 2021

The jug is 152mm tall. White coloured earthenware covered with blue slip and white sprigs.

Pattern 27 jug left side

Pattern 27 jug right side

Pattern 27 jug handle side

Pattern 27 jug base

Pattern 27 jug marks

This jug shows the power of the retailers in not allowing a maker's mark on the jug, and also confirms "27" as a pattern number.

Photos © Paul Fawcett 2021

 

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Pattern 47 "MILAN"

The jug is 140mm tall. White stoneware, the neck covered with blue slip with white classical sprigs.

Pattern 47 jug left side

Pattern 47 jug right side

Pattern 47 jug handle side

Pattern 47 jug base

Pattern 47 jug left side

The impressed "30" is a size marker, and the "W" probably a tally mark that occurs on many of the slip dipped jugs.

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

 

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Pattern 48 "MILAN"

The numbering of this jug is surprising as it appears to be a 'Patent Mosaic' interloper in the 'Milan' series.

The jug is 195mm tall. White stoneware, the neck covered with blue slip in which there are three bands of mosaic work in white.

Pattern 48 jug left side

Pattern 48 jug right side

Pattern 48 jug handle side

Pattern 48 jug base

Pattern 48 jug marks

An impressed "12" size marker can just be seen in the side of the footrim.

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

 

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Pattern 50 "PATENT MOSAIC / MILAN"

Another stray from the Patent Mosaic series, though this time so marked.

The jug is 100mm across and 170mm tall to top of dolphin knob and 135mm to the jug rim. White stoneware, the neck covered with blue slip in which there is one band of mosaic work and six incised lines in white.

Pattern 50 jug left side

Pattern 50 jug right side

Pattern 50 jug base

Pattern 50 jug marks

Photos © Joan Cowan 2021

 

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Pattern 51 "MILAN"

The jug is 165mm tall. White stoneware covered with blue slip and white sprigs.

Pattern 51 jug left side

Pattern 51 jug right side

Pattern 51 jug handle side

Pattern 51 jug base

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

 

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Pattern 52 "MILAN"

The two jugs. White stoneware with blue slip and white sprigging.

Pattrn 52 two jugs left side

The jug is 195mm tall. White stoneware with blue slip and white sprigging.

Pattern 52 jug 1 left side

Pattern 52 jug 1 right side

Pattern 52 jug 1 handle side

Pattern 52 jug 1 base

Pattern 52 jug 1 marks

The jug is 145mm tall. White stoneware with blue slip and white sprigging.

Pattern 52 jug 2 left side

Pattern 52 jug 2 right side

Pattern 52 jug 2 handle side

Pattern 52 jug 2 base

Pattern 52 jug 2 marks

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

 

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Pattern 56 "MILAN" "E. J. RIDGWAY"

The jug (minus Britannia Metal lid) is 165mm tall. White stoneware with blue slip and white sprigging.

Pattern 56 jug left side

Pattern 56 jug right side

Pattern 56 jug base

Pattern 56 jug marks

Photos © Dick Henrywood 2022

 

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Pattern 77 "MILAN"

The jug is 140mm tall. White stoneware with blue slip and white sprigging.

Pattern 77 jug left side

Pattern 77 jug right side

Pattern 77 jug handle side

Pattern 77 jug base

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

The following jug has the same pattern number but minor differences in the sprigging.

The jug (minus Britannia Metal lid) is 170mm tall. White stoneware with blue slip and white sprigging.

Pattern 77 jug left side

Pattern 77 jug lip side

Pattern 77 jug right side

Pattern 77 jug handle side

Pattern 77 jug handle side detail

Pattern 77 jug base

Pattern 77 jug marks

Photos © Tony Curnock 2022

 

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Pattern 79 "MILAN"

The jug is 160mm tall. White stoneware with blue bands and turning.

Pattern 79 jug left side

Pattern 79 jug right side

Pattern 79 jug handle side

Pattern 79 jug base

Pattern 79 jug marks

The size marker "24" is just visible on the side of the footrim.
The "9" of the pattern number is not fully impressed, but it clearly is intended to be a 9.

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

 

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Pattern 131 "MILAN"

The jug is 190mm tall. White stoneware with green slip band and white sprigging.

Pattern 131 jug left side

Pattern 131 jug lip side

Pattern 131 jug right side

Pattern 131 jug handle side

Pattern 131 jug top

Pattern 131 jug base

Pattern 131 jug pattern number

Photos © Paul Mooney 2023

 

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Pattern 198 "MILAN"

The jug is 165mm tall. Buff stoneware with green slip band and white sprigging.

Pattern 198 jug left side

Pattern 198 jug right side

Pattern 198 jug handle side

Pattern 198 jug base

Pattern 198 jug marks

The size marker "24" is just visible on the footrim.

Pattern 198 jug pattern number

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

 

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Incised Number Series

 

Pattern 8

The jug is 180mm widest diameter and 230mm tall.

Pattern 8 jug left side

Pattern 8 jug right side

Pattern 8 jug base

Pattern 8 jug tally marks

The impressed "W" and "S" are probably tally marks.

Pattern 8 jug pattern number

Pattern 8 jug size mark

The impressed figure "6" is probably a size marker for a large jug, the "W" probably a tally mark.

Photos © Joan Cowan 2021

 

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Pattern 80

The jug is 195mm tall. White stoneware covered with blue slip and white sprigs.

Pattern 80 jug left side

Pattern 80 jug lip side

Pattern 80 jug right side

Pattern 80 jug handle side

Pattern 80 jug left side

The impressed figure "12" is a size marker, the "W" probably a tally mark.

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

 

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Pattern 229

The jug is 203mm tall. White stoneware covered with blue slip and white sprigs.

Pattern 229 jug left side

Pattern 229 jug right side

Pattern 229 jug handle side

Pattern 229 jug base

Pattern 229 jug marks

Photos © Paul Fawcett 2021

 

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Pattern 990

The jug is 130mm across and 170mm tall. White stoneware with drab sprigs.

Pattern 990 jug left side

Pattern 990 jug right side

Pattern 990 jug base

Photos © Joan Cowan 2021

 

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Pattern 992

Two jugs. Grey-green stoneware.

Pattern 992 two jugs

The jug is 160mm tall. Grey-green stoneware.

Pattern 992 jug 1 left side

Pattern 992 jug 1 right side

Pattern 992 jug 1 handle side

Pattern 992 jug 1 base

The impressed "24" is a size marker.

The jug is 145mm tall. Grey-green stoneware.

Pattern 992 jug 2 left side

Pattern 992 jug 2 right side

Pattern 992 jug 2 handle side

Pattern 992 jug 2 base

The impressed "30" is a size marker.

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

 

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Fractional Number Series

 

Pattern 2/5600 "MILAN 1"

The jug is 125mm tall. White coloured earthenware covered with blue slip.

Pattern 2/5600 jug left side

Pattern 2/5600 jug lip side

Pattern 2/5600 jug right side

Pattern 2/5600 jug handle side

Pattern 2/5600 jug base

Pattern 2/5600 jug marks

The "1" is further away from the "MILAN", but it clearly is the impressed pattern number. The fractional number is for the added gilding. Note also the curved tool mark that often appears on these wares and is probably a tally mark.

Photos © Tony Curnock 2022

 

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Pattern 2/8118

The jug is 180mm tall. Ebony or jet ware.

Pattern 2/8118 jug left side

Pattern 2/8118 jug lip side

The small chip tells us that the jug has a white slip liner that has been coloured blue.

Pattern 2/8118 jug right side

Pattern 2/8118 jug handle side

Pattern 2/8118 jug base

Photos © Tony Curnock 2022

 

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Pattern 2/8158 "MILAN 609"

The jug is 152mm tall. Red or terracotta ware.

Pattern 2/8158 jug left side

Pattern 2/8158 jug handle side

Pattern 2/8158 jug base

Pattern 2/8158 jug marks

The markings here seem to indicate this jug belongs to the impressed number series as well as the fractional number series. Perhaps the "609" refers to the bare jug before the decoration was applied. The impressed "30" is a size marker indicating a small jug.

Photos © Paul Fawcett 2021

 

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Pattern 3/6030

The jug is 205mm tall, excluding lid. Earthenware.

Pattern 3/6030 jug left side

Detail from Flaxman's drawing from Homer's Iliad: 'Diomed casting his spear against Mars'.

Pattern 3/6030 jug right side

Detail from Flaxman's drawing from Homer's Iliad: 'Hector's body dragged at the car of Achilles'.

Pattern 3/6030 jug handle side

Pattern 3/6030 jug base

The impressed date code reads "9/77"for September 1877. The "12" is a size marker.

Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2021

 

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Pattern 3/8794

The jug is 178mm tall and 152mm lip to handle. Ebony or jet ware.

Pattern 3/8794 jug left side

Pattern 3/8794 jug left side detail

Pattern 3/8794 jug left side detail 2

Pattern 3/8794 jug handle side

Pattern 3/8794 jug right side

Pattern 3/8794 jug top

The body of this jug is dark terracotta, but it appears to be lined with earthenware slip.

Pattern 3/8794 jug base

The impressed "24" appears to be a size marker. The impressed cross in probably a moulder's tally mark.

Pattern 3/8794 jug pattern number

Photos © Marci Andrews ~ Andrews Vintage 2021

 

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Notes.

1. G.A.Godden, Ridgway Porcelains (1985), p.219.