Famous Potters of Stoke-on-Trent
Famous Potters of Stoke-on-Trent
| Davenport family of potters | |
John Davenport, born in 1765, is said to have begun potting in 1785, first
as a workman, and later as a partner with Thomas Wolfe of Stoke.
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At the beginning, earthenwares only were made, of
which blue printed and formed a large part. Porcelain was not manufactured until
about 1815.
During the whole existence of the firm
underglaze blue transferware printed earthenwares and wares were made in very
large quantities. Many different bodies were used, including a stone china. The
blue varies from a light to a medium color. Willow patterns were made
extensively, and unlike most of the other potters, chinoiseries of different
designs remained one of the key motifs of their printed in patterns over the
whole period. These are seen on every conceivable type of domestic ware. Baskets
with openwork sides, and plates and dishes with pierced and wicker pattern
borders, were made in quantity. Other designs of floral patterns, romantic ruins
and pastoral scenes were used. No named English scenic views appear to have been
made, nor did the firm cater for the American market in this type of ware,
although a view of the city of Montreal is reported in one American book on
pottery.
It is probable that many of the earliest pieces were not marked, but judging
from the number of 19th-century pieces which still may be found it must have
been rare for a piece made after 1800 not to have been marked. The earliest mark
was the name "Davenport", impressed in lower case letters, with or
without an anchor after 1805, the name more often appears in upper case letters.
Occasionally the anchor appears alone. The word Longport is sometimes substitute
for Davenport.
Identifying
marks on Davenport ware
Examples of Davenport Ware
 Davenport transferware |
 Davenport backstamp |
questions / comments? email: Steve Birks