Bell Works and Church Works
'Pompeii' Shape Jugs

 

Bell Works

William Ridgway

"Persian"

 

Church Works and Cobden Works

William Ridgway & Co.

Plain Stone

Plain Blue

Plain Sage

Pattern 33

Pattern 60

Pattern 153

Pattern 171

Pattern 190

E. J. Ridgway & Abington

Pattern 5145 "Siva"

 

Bell Works Patterns

 

"Persian" green

This is the first example of a 'Pompeii' jug that I have come across with a printed design, or indeed in ordinary earthenware. It does show how shape moulds were transferred between William Ridgway's various enterprises.

The jug. Earthenware.

Persian jug side

Persian jug mark

This has the Urn and Beehive mark used at the Bell Works rather than the Urn and Anchor mark used at the Church Works.

Photos © Dick Henrywood 2019

 

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Church Works and Cobden Works Patterns

 

Plain Stone

The jug is 146mm tall. Buff stoneware.

Plain Stone Pompeii jug, handle left

Plain Stone Pompeii jug, handle facing

Plain Stone Pompeii jug, applied mark

The Urn & Anchor mark, with "W. RIDGWAY & Co." on a ribbon below, would appear to be sprigged on and only occurs on a few of the early jugs.
Note the impressed "24" on the base. This is the number in a 'potter's dozen', and it relates to the size (the smaller the number, the larger the jug), and the way it is invoiced out from the factory (if you bought a dozen of 24s you would get 24 jugs).

Photos © Angela Grant 2017

 

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Plain Blue

The jug is 264mm tall including lid. Pale blue stoneware.

Plain Blue Pompeii jug, handle right

Plain Blue Pompeii jug, handle facing

Plain Blue Pompeii Jug from above

The knob shape is typical of the factory.

Plain Blue Pompeii jug, handle to rear

The filter appears to have been restored.

Plain Blue Pompeii jug, applied mark

The impressed "4" on the base means you would get only 4 of these large jugs to the dozen.

Photos © Angela Grant 2017

 

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Plain Sage

The jug (minus ceramic cover) is 178mm lip to handle, and 197mm tall. Sage stoneware.

Plain sage Pompeii jug left side

Plain sage Pompeii jug middle side

Plain sage Pompeii jug right side

Plain sage Pompeii jug handle side

Plain sage Pompeii jug handle detail

Plain sage Pompeii jug handle detail 2

Plain sage Pompeii jug top

Plain sage Pompeii jug base

Plain sage Pompeii jug tally mark

This appears to be a moulder's tally mark.

Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2023

 

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Pattern 33

This pattern has gilt highlights.

The jug is 128mm tall. Pale blue stoneware.

Pattern 33 jug, handle right

Pattern 33 jug, handle to rear

Pattern 33 jug, handle to front

Pattern 33 jug, pattern number

The impressed mark on the opposite side of the base to the number occurs on several William Ridgway moulded jugs. It may be a form of moulder's tally mark.

Photos © Angela Grant 2017

The jug with Britannia Metal lid is 217mm tall to the tip of the lid. Pale blue stoneware.

Pattern 33 jug with Britannia Metal lid left side

Pattern 33 jug with Britannia Metal lid middle side

Pattern 33 jug with Britannia Metal lid right side

Pattern 33 jug with Britannia Metal lid handle side

Pattern 33 jug with Britannia Metal lid top

Pattern 33 jug with Britannia Metal lid bottom

Pattern 33 jug with Britannia Metal lid pattern number

Photos © Angela Grant 2018

The jug (minus Britannia Metal lid) is 168mm handle to spout and 187mm tall. Pale blue stoneware.

Pattern 33 jug left side

Pattern 33 jug left side detail

Pattern 33 jug lip side

Pattern 33 jug right side

Pattern 33 jug handle side

Pattern 33 jug top

Pattern 33 jug base

Pattern 33 jug pattern number

Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2022

 

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Pattern 60

The Pattern Book entry for this pattern reads: '60 / Pompeii Jug. / Patt 33 Cut up in dry Orange instead [of] Gold.'1
The orange highlights would presumably have meant that this pattern was slightly cheaper than pattern 33.

The jugs are respectively 220mm, 187mm and 158mm tall. Pale blue coloured stoneware.

Set of three Pattern 60 jugs

Largest Pattern 60 jug pattern number Middle Pattern 60 jug pattern number Smallest Pattern 60 jug pattern number

Photos © Angela Grant 2010

 

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Pattern 153

The minature jug is 69mm tall. Pale blue coloured stoneware.

Pattern 153 jug left side

Pattern 153 jug middle side

Pattern 153 jug right side

Pattern 153 jug handle side

Pattern 153 jug top

Pattern 153 jug bottom

Pattern 153 jug pattern number

Photos © Angela Grant 2018

 

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Pattern 171

The Pattern Book entry for this pattern reads: '171. / [Picture without lid] / Pompeii Jug for Mounting'1
The implication here is that the lids were not fitted by the factory, but the retailer arranged for this to be done. This may explain the variety of lids fitted.

The jug with Britannia metal lid is 191mm tall to top of handle. Pale blue coloured stoneware.

Pattern 171 jug left side

Pattern 171 jug lip side

Pattern 171 jug right side

Pattern 171 jug handle side

Pattern 171 jug base

Pattern 171 jug marks

Pattern 171 jug pattern number Pattern 171 jug impressed mark

Pattern 171 jug tally mark Pattern 171 jug tally mark

There is a particularly complete set of marks on this jug, with an impressed moulder's mark, a painter's mark, and a gilder's mark.

Photos © David Gallacher 2020

 

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Pattern 190

The Pattern Book entry for this pattern reads: '190. / Turqs Pompeii Jug as 33 only Mulberry / leafage & white & orange flowers Sprigs / inside the Jug — (not Mounted)'1

The jug is 178mm tall. Pale blue coloured stoneware.

Pattern 190 jug left side 1

Pattern 190 jug left side 2

Pattern 190 jug left top

Pattern 190 jug handle side

Pattern 190 jug base

Pattern 190 jug marks

The impressed "12" is a size mark. The horizontal and vertical lines close to the pattern number are probably tally marks.

Photos © Jim McAuliffe 2018-20

 

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Pattern 5145 "Siva"

I was most surprised by this turning up as I had no idea they continued using the shape for so long. It also gave me a name for a print that I had not previously seen named.

The jug is 190mm tall. Earthenware.

Pattern 5145 jug left side

Pattern 5145 jug base

Pattern 5145 jug marks

Photos © Susanna Pickle 2022

 

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Notes

1. Entry from the William Ridgway Pattern Book by courtesy of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.