Dudson — Ridgway
Rope Handled Jugs
There was clearly co-operation between the two factories and it is difficult to establish exactly how far that went. Both factories appear to have manufactured jugs of this shape. Dudson probably supplied the Bedford Works with moulds, glazes and ideas. Ridgway supplied the manufacturing capacity that Dudson did not have. Presumably there was a sharing of profits.
There has been some controversy over the meaning of the word "Paxton", mostly found as an impressed mark, or occasionally printed. The word is only found on this type of jug. Many, including myself, hold that this is the shape name, but Audrey Dudson always held that this was incorrect and that it was the name of a retailer, and many agree with her. No retailer of sufficient size to account for the number of jugs so marked has ever been traced.
E. J. Ridgway & Sons
Ridgway, Sparks & Ridgway
Ridgways
Ridgways (Bedford Works) Ltd.
Pattern i/530 "Maiden Hair Fern"
Manufactured by Dudsons
Pattern 467
The jug is 165mm tall. Brown earthenware, partly turned body with white ivy sprigging.
The "24" is a size marker. The higher the number, the smaller the jug.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
Pattern 996
The jug is 150mm tall. Brown earthenware with white sprigging.
Photos © Kenneth H. Carleton 2020
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Pattern 998
The jug is 178mm tall, 76mm diameter at top, and 102mm at base. Brown earthenware with white sprigging.
The impressed "24" is most likely a size marker. The double dot is probably a tally mark.
Photos © Annahlyn Pugh 2021
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Pattern 1182
The jug is 180mm tall. White earthenware covered with hyacinth blue slip and white sprigs.
The datecode form "13/4/81" I am informed only occurs on hyacinth blue wares.
The "24" is a size marker. The higher the number, the smaller the jug.
The meaning of the impressed "PAXTON" has been disputed. Audrey Dudson was convinced it was a retailer's name, but no retailer of that name has been traced. As I have only seen the mark on this shape of jug I suspect it may be the shape name.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
Pattern 1422
The jug is 180mm tall. Slate blue coloured earthenware with white sprigs.
The faintly impressed registration diamond is for 10 November 1882, Parcel 10. This was registered by Ridgways, Bedford Works, and was only produced for them.
Godden records that the registration is for a 'Design for a jug form'.1
The impressed date mark reads "4 / 83" for April 1883.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
Pattern 1436
The jug is 152mm tall, 89mm in diameter at base, and 70mm in diameter at top. Brown coloured earthenware with white sprigs.
The impressed "30" may be a size mark but it seems a little high for the size of the jug. The two holes may be a tally mark.
Photos © Corgi Acre Antiques 2020
Pattern 1622
The jug is 173mm tall. Brown coloured stoneware with white sprigs.
Note the impressed "PAXTON" bottom left.
The date code appears to read "6/80" for June 1880, but the top figure is unclear.
Photos © Maria Kultys 2021
Pattern 1623
The jug is 195mm tall. Slate blue coloured stoneware with white sprigs.
The impressed date mark reads "3 / 80" for March 1880.
The "12" is a size marker. The higher the number, the smaller the jug.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
Pattern 1688
The jug is 190mm tall. Brown coloured earthenware with white sprigs.
The top is drilled for a hinged metal lid but this is missing or was never fitted.
The printed registration diamond is for 10 November 1882, Parcel 10. This was registered by Ridgways, Bedford Works, and was only produced for them.
Godden records that the registration is for a 'Design for a jug form'.1
The impressed date mark reads "11 / 82" for November 1882.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
'Mosaic' brown
The jug is 197mm tall, 89mm in diameter at the top, and 117mm at the base. Brown stoneware with mosaic work in blue, white and cream.
The impressed "12" is probably a size mark, and the two outside marks are probably tally marks, but what the "9 8" is for I can't say.
Photos © Annahlyn Pugh 2021
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'Mosaic' pink
The jug is 140mm to ridge on cover. Pink stoneware with two bands of 'Bead & Line' with black bead and blue line and turning.
This "ENGLAND" impressed mark was in use from 1870-1899.
The cross in circle impressed tally mark was used at both Dudson's and at Ridgways' Bedford Works. This may be a coincidence, or it may indicate that workers were at times transferred from one factory to the other.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
'Cherubs' sage
The jug with Britannia metal lid is 180mm to the top of the cover excluding finial. Sage coloured earthenware with white reliefs.
This "ENGLAND" impressed mark was in use from 1870-1899.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
'Cherubs' brown
The coffee pot is 206mm spout to handle, and 225mm tall including lid. Brown coloured earthenware with white reliefs.
The impressed mark reads "JAMES DUDSON / LICENSED BY THE PATENTEES / HANLEY STAFFORDSHIRE" and was used 1845-1882. The mark refers to a 'patent lock lid' that would not fall out when the contents were poured. The lid was used on tea pots and coffee pots.
This "ENGLAND" impressed mark was in use from 1870-1899.
Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2020
'Muses'
The 'Cocoa Jug' is 165mm tall to top of knob. Pale blue earthenware with white reliefs.
The impressed "DUDSON ENGLAND" mark was used 1891-99
The cross in circle impressed tally mark was used at both Dudson's and at Ridgways' Bedford Works. This may be a coincidence, or it may indicate that workers were at times transferred from one factory to the other.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
'Muses & Divisions'
The rope handled jug is 205mm tall. Pale blue earthenware covered in dark blue slip and white reliefs. Full glaze.
The impressed "DUDSON ENGLAND" mark was used 1891-99
Photos © Angela Grant 2017-2020
Manufactured by Ridgways
Pattern 3/9531
The jug is 8.5 inches tall, and the base has a diameter of 5 inches. Earthenware.
Photos © Milka Kraleva ~ artandkrafts 2020
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Pattern 3/9532
The jug is 203mm tall. Ebony ware.
The jug is 203mm tall. Ebony ware.
Impressed marks are "12" and a very tiny "M", significance unknown.
The jug is 159mm tall. Ebony ware.
Photos © Tony Curnock 2020
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Pattern 3/9562
This jug appears to have once had a Britannia-metal lid.
The jug is 203mm tall. Ebony ware.
Photos © Tony Curnock 2021
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Pattern 3/9970 "Cenis"
This jug is important because it firmly establishes that the shape belongs to the factory.
The jug is 203mm tall. Ebony ware.
The registration diamond is for 9 October 1871, Parcel 8 which is recorded as for E. J. Ridgway & Sons, Bedford Works, Hanley.
Godden records that the registration is for a printed design for dinner wares.1
Photos © Tony Curnock 2020
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Pattern 4/3905
The jug is 7 inches tall. Ebony ware.
Photos © Tony Curnock 2020
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Pattern 4/4268
The jug is 7.75 inches tall. Ebony ware.
The meaning of the impressed "PAXTON" has been disputed. Audrey Dudson was convinced it was a retailer's name, but no retailer of that name has been traced. As I have only seen the mark on this shape of jug I suspect it may be the shape name.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
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Pattern 4/4304
The jug is 6 inches tall. Ebony ware.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
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Pattern 4/4924
The jug is 153mm tall and 89mm base diameter. Ebony ware.
Photos © Michael Grana 2021
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Pattern 4/5124
The jug is 7 inches tall. Ebony ware.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
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Pattern 4/5443
The jug is 6.75 inches tall. Ebony ware.
The jug should have a Britannia metal lid as with the i/267 jug below.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
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Pattern 4/5900
The jug is 7 inches tall. Ebony ware.
Photos © Tony Curnock 2020
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Pattern 4/6298
The jug is 7.75 inches tall. Ebony ware. The top has been drilled for a hinged Britannia metal lid now missing.
It is unclear why this transfer has been applied to the base as it appears to have no connection with the design on the jug.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
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Pattern 4/7206
The jug is 7.25 inches tall. Earthenware.
The impressed date mark reads "8/80" for August 1880.
Photos © Leslie LeFevre-Stratton 2020
The covered filter jug (minus cover) is 8 inches tall and 4.75 inches wide at the base. Earthenware.
The missing cover is flat, and has a turquoise edge and spherical knob. For a similar lid see Pattern i/3 below.
The impressed date mark reads "2/80" for February 1880.
Photos © Kenneth H. Carleton 2020
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Pattern E/2
The jug is 8 inches tall. Ebony ware.
It appears to have been drilled to take a Britannia metal lid as on e/83 below, now missing.
Photos © Tony Curnock 2020
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Pattern E/3
For a teapot of the same pattern click here.
For a vase of the same pattern click here.
The jug should have a Britannia metal lid as with the i/267 jug below.
The jug is 6 inches tall. Ebony ware.
Photos © Tony Curnock 2020
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Pattern E/42 'Persia'
This decoration appears also on Bedford Works i/ series wares where it bears the print name 'Persia'.
The jug is 7.75 inches tall. Ebony ware.
The jug should have a Britannia metal lid as with the i/267 jug below.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
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Pattern E/83
The covered jug is 8 inches tall. Ebony ware.
The peculiar form of "e" with the long upper tail seems to be a signature of decorator "2" as I have seen other examples of their work with the same peculiarity.
Photos © Tony Curnock 2020
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Pattern R/49
The jug is 6.75 inches tall. Red ware.
Photos © Tony Curnock 2020
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Pattern i/3 "Yeddo"
This jug is important because it firmly establishes that the shape belongs to the factory.
The covered filter jug is 9.5 inches tall, 6 inches wide including handle, 3.5 inches in diameter at top, and 4.75 inches diameter at base. Earthenware.
The registration diamond is for 17 April 1878, Parcel 14 which is recorded as for Ridgway, Sparks, & Ridgway, Bedford Works, Hanley.
Godden records that the registration is for two printed designs in eastern style.1
The top impressed mark appears to be a date mark: 8? / 14? 1914 seems a little late but not impossible. The middle mark is a moulder's tally mark, and the bottom mark is probably a size mark.
Photos © Tom Douglas ~ My Grandmothers Antiques 2020
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Pattern i/93
The jug with Britannia metal lid is 203mm tall excluding lid. Earthenware.
The date code reads "9 / 79" for September 1879.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
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Pattern i/267 "Yeddo"
This jug is important because it firmly establishes that the shape belongs to the factory.
The jug with Britannia metal lid is 8 inches tall, and 5.5 inches from lip to handle. Earthenware.
The registration diamond is for 17 April 1878, Parcel 14 which is recorded as for Ridgway, Sparks, & Ridgway, Bedford Works, Hanley.
Godden records that the registration is for '2 Printed designs in eastern style'.1
Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2020
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Pattern i/530 "Maiden Hair Fern"
The jug is 180mm tall. Earthenware.
The registration diamond is for 28 July 1881, Parcel 14 which is recorded as for Ridgways, Bedford Works, Hanley.
Godden records that the registration is for a 'Printed design - maidenhair form'.1
The impressed "RIDGWAYS" is unusual.
Photos © Clare and Alan Walker 2020
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Pattern 3430 "Gainsborough"
It is not yet clear whether the later 4-figure numbering system was a continuation of the i/xxxx with the prefix dropped, or whether it was a completely new series. Hopefully the appearance of further examples will settle the matter.
The jug is 152mm tall, 76mm wide at the top including lip, and 92mm in diameter at the base. Earthenware.
Photos © cycle42020 2021
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Notes.
1. G.A.Godden, Ridgway Porcelains (1985), p.219.