Pair, Urns, Covered, Mason Ironstone, c.1820
Form: Pair of urns.
Components: Hard paste.
Decoration: These two urns are decorated in the Japan pattern. They depict flowers and foliates with gold highlights throughout. Each one has a lid with a lining below it. The lids have gold apple finials and underneath the lids rest linings. The linings show the Mason Ironstone mark which includes the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. Two gold roses are attached to the sides of the urns.
Colors: Gold, blue, pink, red and green.
Markings: 'Patent Ironstone China Warranted' Date: Circa 1820
Provenance: The estate of Arthur J. Connolly
Size: 16.5"H x 9"W x 6.5"D
Weight: 16lb 3oz
Condition: Very good. Some minor paint loss throughout.
History: In 1806 Miles Mason entered into a partnership with his eldest son William at the larger Minerva Works. Further expansion took place in 1811 when they took on Sampson Bagnall's factory which was also at Lane End. Over a number of years many experiments must have taken place with earthenware and prototype ironstone bodies. It is highly likely that Miles Mason was the driving force behind these developments, but it was his youngest son Charles James Mason who registered the famous patent 'for the improvement in manufacture of English porcelain'. The patent was taken out in 1813, the same year that Miles was to retire from the business. Mason's Patent Ironstone China was extremely durable and could be produced at very competitive prices. The changing dining habits of the early nineteenth century revolutionized the ceramic industry. A greater variety of items were required and ironstone was eminently suited to the manufacture of large items, especially dinner services. The manufacture of porcelain was costly; the less expensive ironstone body could be afforded by a greater percentage of the population. It was much more resilient to daily household use and relatively inexpensive to replace.
Meta: Chinese Export, Masons Ironstone, Stoneware, Pottery, Wares, China, Crackleware, Earthenware, Ceramic, Crockery, Tableware