Object Number 2021.0019.007

Object Name

Tile (Fireplace or wall tile)

Title

Ploughing

Category

Ceramics

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Hyman Myers & Sandra Kittner Myers

Creator (Role)

Minton factory (Maker)
1793

John Moyr Smith (Designer)
1839-1912

Place of Origin

Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Date

1874-1876

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Mark; Underside; Raised letters "MINTONS / CHINA WORKS / STOKE ON TRENT" and "L[?]"

Subjects

Months

Materials

Earthenware

Techniques

Printed, Molded, Dust-pressed

Dimensions (inches)

1.063 (H) , 9.17 (L) , 9.17 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

2.7 (H) , 23.3 (L) , 23.3 (W)

Measurement Notes

Measurements (above) are for frame. Tile probably 8" x 8".

Object Description

Web - 06/23/2022

The body of this transfer-printed tile was created via a process known as dust-pressing, that was first patented by Richard Prosser in 1840 and was used by the Minton factory in Staffordshire. The tile's ornament reflects the then-popular fascination with the Medieval period and was created by the prominent designer John Moyr Smith. It is from his series of twelve tile designs featuring figures inspired by ornament on ceramics in London's South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum). Moyer Smith included these designs in his "Album of Decorative Figures," noting that the series is "illustrating fieldwork for the twelve months of the year."

The full series of tiles portray these themes: Digging, Reaping, Mowing, Fruit Gathering, Woodcutting, Sowing, Pruning, Grape Picking, Grafting, Espalier, Threshing, and Ploughing. Although the central reserves in the series remain the same, such tiles were available in a range of colorways and with different border details. As well as being used in fireplace surrounds and walls, these and other tiles formed decorative elements on furniture.

(Winterthur is grateful to The Transferware Collectors Club for research support provided by the Paul and Gladys Richards Research Grant Program for Studies in British Transferware.)

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Electronic] Transferware Collectors Club. Transferware Collectors Club Database of Patterns & Sources. Transferware Collectors Club 03/13/2024 https://www.transferwarecollectorsclub.org/members/database
• Printed tile portraying same scene within different border: Identified as "Ploughing" (Alternate Name: Husbandry, Pattern No. 1727), pattern no. 17553. "...one of 12 designs in the Husbandry series of designs by John Moyr Smith c. 1874-76."
[Electronic] Transferware Collectors Club. Transferware Collectors Club Database of Patterns & Sources. Transferware Collectors Club 03/13/2024 https://www.transferwarecollectorsclub.org/members/database
• Printed tile portraying scene from same series within different border: Identified as "Sower" (Alternate Name: Husbandry), pattern no. 19034. "...one of 12 designs in the Husbandry series of designs by John Moyr Smith c. 1874-76." Lacks outer border shown on Winterthur tile.
[Electronic] Transferware Collectors Club. Transferware Collectors Club Database of Patterns & Sources. Transferware Collectors Club 03/13/2024 https://www.transferwarecollectorsclub.org/members/database
• Printed tile portraying scene from same series within different border: Identified as "Woodcutting" (Alternate Name: Husbandry, Pattern No. 1727), pattern no. 17554. "...one of 12 designs in the Husbandry series of designs by John Moyr Smith c. 1874-76." Lacks outer border shown on Winterthur tile.
[Book] Stapleton, Annamarie. 2020 John Moyr Smith 1839-1912: A Victorian Designer.
• Same central reserve theme on differently-bordered "Husbandry" tiles: pp. 64-65, the series with borders suiting them to "continuous horizontal or vertical borer[s] in buildings, fireplaces or furniture...the figures were taken from figures on early pottery in the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum, London)...In his 'Album of Decorative figures' Moyr Smith refers to this series as 'The Months...""
[Book] Stapleton, Annamarie. 2020 John Moyr Smith 1839-1912: A Victorian Designer.
• Book focused on John Moyr Smith designs
[Book] Stapleton, Annamarie. 2020 John Moyr Smith 1839-1912: A Victorian Designer.
• "Husbandry" tiles series by Moyr Smith: pp. 64-65, including "Ploughing" tile with same central reserve as Winterthur example but in blue with different border. Subject is one of 12 Husbandry themes, also refered to by Moyr Smith as The Months, 1874-76. Designs are after imagery on ceramics at Victoria & Albert Museum, London (formerly South Kensington Museum).
[Book] Stapleton, Annamarie. 2020 John Moyr Smith 1839-1912: A Victorian Designer.
• Hall chair including "Woodcutting" tile from Husbandry series by Moyr Smith: p. 64, left chair in lower right image.
[Electronic] van Lemmen, Hans. Minton's Prosser's Patent Tiles 1840-1854. Academia.edu (Journal of the Tiles & Architectural Ceramics Society) 06/23/2022 https://www.academia.edu/40425467/Mintons_Prossers_Patent_Tiles_1840_1854
• Article on dust-pressed tile process at Minton