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Job Meigh (& Son)






 

[Meigh & Walthall]
1790-1802 		 [Job Meigh (&Son)]
1802-1834 		 [Charles Meigh]
1835-1849 		 [C Meigh, Son & Pankhurst]
1850-July 1850 		 [Charles Meigh & Son]
Jul 1850-Mar 1861 		 [Old Hall Earthenware Co Ltd]
Mar 1861-Jul 1886 		 [Old Hall Porcelain Works Ltd]
1886-1902 

 

Location and period of operation:

Job Meigh

Hanley

1802

1812

Job Meigh & Son 

Hanley

1812

1834

 

Earthenware manufacturer at the Old Hall Works, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England

  • Job Meigh built the Old Hall Works in 1790 and entered into partnership with Peter Walthall as Meigh & Walthall 

  • In November 1802 Wilthall left the business and Job Meigh continued on his own account

  • In 1812 Job Meigh's son (Job Meigh II) joined the business. 

  • Job Meigh (the father) died in 1817 but the style of the Job Meigh & Son continued. 

  • In 1834 Job Meigh II retired and Charles Meigh (Job Meigh II's brother) took the works.

 

Previously: Meigh & Walthall 

Subsequently: Charles Meigh

 

 

 


footed serving dish 
MEIGH

impressed mark MEIGH

 

 

 

Zoological Sketches 

 

While the source material for the patterns was published in 1805, the 'Zoological Sketches' series itself was not produced that early. It is generally dated between 1812 and 1835.

Source Material: The engravings used for the pottery designs were taken from John Church's book, A Cabinet of Quadrupeds, which was first published in 1805. The potters adapted these existing prints for their transferware years later.

Manufacturer History: The firm Job Meigh & Son (which produced the series) only added "& Son" to its name in 1812. Pieces from this series typically bear the "J M & S" mark, confirming they were produced after this name change.

 

 

 

The animals are shown with trees and rocks/mountains in the background, surrounded by an inner border of flowers and various exotic birds. 

The outer border consists of a continuous pattern incorporating both scrolls and leaves.



four footed soup tureen with ladle and stand in one of the Zoological Sketches patterns 
Zoological Sketches
J M & S

A series of animal patterns - the animals are surrounded by an inner border of flowers and various exotic birds. The majority of the production was in black with the occasional blue and white set. 

The original animal prints are attributed to John Church's book "A Cabinet of Quadrupeds" first published in 1805 - the engraved source prints are reported to have also been used by Enoch Wood, Ralph Hall and Copeland & Garrett in other transferware zoological series.

 

 

 

known animals in the series are an elephant, rhinoceros, elk, lion, 
tiger, skunk, hyena, zebra, lemur, gazelle, kangaroo, pangolin



a blue printed dinner set in the Zoological Sketches pattern

 

 

 

 

Confusion with the marks of J Meir & Son

 

The initials J M & S were used by Job Meigh & Son from c.1812-34, especially on the Zoological Sketches pattern.

However the initials J M & S usually relate to J. Meir & Son (1837-1897).

Job Meigh & Son were not known to use the name 'Ironstone' or 'Warranted Staffordshire' in their marks. Also they were not known to produce Willow Pattern ware. 


these marks are those of John Meir & Son - NOT Job Meir & Son:-


Warranted Staffordshire
J M & S


Ironstone
J M & S

(Fuchsia is the pattern name)
J M & S
Ironstone

(Chinese is the pattern name)


 

 

Job Meigh (& Son) initials & marks used on ware for identification:

 


MEIGH

impressed mark MEIGH

MEIGH

OLD HALL

impressed marks 

 

 

J M & S
[1812-34] 

these initials J. M & S are from a Zoological Sketches pattern
and are known to have been produced by Job Meigh & Son

 

 

 

quasi-Chinese marks

 

shown above are examples of marks used by 
Chinese porcelain manufacturers 

The Meigh family (& other potters) added similar
marks to their ware to give the impression of the orient
to their ware even though it was produced in England.
example of quasi-Chinese mark used by Job Meigh 
- this style of mark was also used
by Charles Meigh and Charles Meigh & Son 

 

 


Improved Stone China 
around the border: Meigh Hanley

other wording included "Indian Stone China" or "French China" 
Enamel Porcelain 

marks recorded in Godden's 'Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and porcelain Marks'

these style of marks were also used by Charles Meigh and Charles Meigh & Son 

 

 

 

The Old Hall Works

1790-1902

The Old Hall Works in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, was one of the most significant pottery factories of the 19th century, famously operated by the Meigh family from its inception until its later transition into a limited company and beyond. 

 

    

- more on the Old Hall Works - 

 

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks

 


Page History:

Page created 31 May 2022

Last Updated 30 March 2026: Section on confusion with John Meir & Son marks added.