Misleading Pieces
Samuel Alcock
Samuel Alcock, Cobridge c.1828-53, Hill Pottery, Burslem, c.1830-59.
Sir James Duke & Nephews, Hill Pottery, Burslem, c.1860-3.
Hill Pottery Co. (Ltd.), Burslem, c.1861-7.
Samuel Alcock produced fine bone china as well as earthenwares. His china has often been mistaken for Ridgway because the factory used fractional pattern numbering. The shapes are, however, quite different, and the style of gilding has a flavour unique to the factory. Whereas Ridgway pattern numbers are generally, but not exclusively, painted in iron-red, Alcock numbering can be in iron-red, but more generally are in puce, or in one of the border colours used on the item being numbered. The numbers are also done with a boldness generally absent from Ridgway numbering, and often contain an "N." or "No." to the left of the lower part of the number.
Samuel Alcock (& Co.)
Sir James Duke & Nephews
Pattern 4880
This Leaning Rose shape has long presented a problem of identification. Previously we have seen only Mazarin border patterns with the leaning rose edge moulding picked out in gold. They were considered as of uncertain origin, possibly Ridgway. Since these grey border patterns have come to the fore it has become clear that the style of gilding fits Alcock better than Ridgway. Patterns in this shape are generally in the 4000s
The dessert plate is 230mm in diameter. Bone china.
Photos © Sujing Dum 2020
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Pattern 2/5545
This appears to be from the same shape set as pattern 2/7143 below. See the article on Alcock by Geoffrey & Alma Barnes in Geoffrey Godden (ed.), Staffordshire Porcelains (Granada, 1983), p.315, fig. 483.
The leaf dessert dish is 260mm in diameter including handle, 146mm base diameter, and 57mm tall. Bone china.
Photos © Claude Daniel Hester 2020
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Pattern 2/5635
This type of vase has been claimed erroneously to be by Ridgway.
The pattern number is in puce, which is common practice at this factory.
The vase is 265mm tall. Bone china.
Photos © Des Mills 2020
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Pattern 2/7143
The border gilding here is typical of the factory style. The pattern number is in puce, a common practice at the factory.
This appears to be the same shape as the pattern 2/5718 service illustrated in the article by Geoffrey & Alma Barnes in Geoffrey Godden (ed.), Staffordshire Porcelains (Granada, 1983), p.315, fig. 483.
The dessert plate is 232mm in diameter. Bone china.
The second dessert plate is also 232mm in diameter. Bone china.
Photos © Angela Grant 2018
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Pattern 2/8053
The border decoration on this piece totally ignores the piercings, which is not a practice found at Cauldon Place. The pattern number is done in the border grey, and, for that reason, is barely readable.
The leaf dessert dish is 254mm long, 228mm wide, 62mm high at the handle. Bone china.
Photos © Angela Grant 2018
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Pattern 3/9199
Greek Revival patterns were done by a number of factories, including Cauldon Place, in the mid to late 1850s. Mostly jugs and vases were produced, but occasionally flatware as well. This one shows the Samuel Alcock mark used on these pieces, and the pattern number, done in the background black, has the characteristic "No." to the left of the lower part of the number. The 3/ series at Cauldon Place was only used for fancy wares, never for dessert wares. The 3/ series at the Broad Street Works was used for ironstone wares and earthenwares, never for bone china.
The dessert plate is 9 inches in diameter. Bone china.
Photos © Patrick Doherty 2020
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Pattern 4/5704
Although the style of landscape painting is similar to that used at Cauldon Place, there is no evidence that Ridgway ever used a 4/ number series (although Francis Morley did at the Broad Street Works, but only for ironstone wares and earthenwares). The pattern number is again in puce.
The dessert plate is 229mm in diameter. Bone china.
Photos © Angela Grant 2018
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Pattern 4/6303
The pattern number here is in the border turquoise. It is common for the factory to use a border colour for the pattern number.
The comport is 241mm in diameter and 121mm tall. Bone china.
Photos © Anonymous 2020
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