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Charles Meigh
Charles Meigh, Son & Pankhurst
Charles Meigh & Son
Old Hall Earthenware Co. Ltd.

Charles Meigh succeeded Job Meigh & Son and appears in directories at Hanley from 1835 to 1846, followed by Meigh, Son & Pankhurst from 1850 to 1852, then Charles Meigh & Son from 1851 to 1861. Godden gives the dates as Charles Meigh 1835-49, Charles Meigh, Son & Pankhurst 1850-51, and Charles Meigh & Son 1851-61. The Old Hall Earthenware Co. Ltd. appears in directories from 1863 through to 1892. Godden points out that they were incorporated in March 1861 and gives the firm's dates as 1861 to July 1886.

Seven jug designs have been recorded from the Charles Meigh period, six from Charles Meigh & Son, and seven from the Old Hall Earthenware Co. Ltd. Most are dated, either published or registered, so they are listed below in date order. The seven undated designs have been inserted in approximate order.

"Julius Caesar" or "Albion"
Design published on 1 November 1839. It is normally titled "Julius Caesar" but a rare variant titled "Albion" is known.
Marks: applied mark “Nov 1st, 1839, / Published by C. Meigh / Hanley, / Julius Caesar.” or "Published by C. Meigh / Hanley. / Nov. 1st. 1839, / ALBION."
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/105-6 and Colour Plate IX; Hughes 1/31; Rumsey 218-20

The sources for the two scenes have been identified as engravings by William Sharp after Thomas Stothard (“Boadicea the British Queen" dated 1812), and by Simon François Ravenet I after Nicholas Blakey (“The Landing of Julius Caesar" dated 1751)

"Roman"
Design published on 1 October 1840.
Marks: moulded publication mark “OCT. 1st. / 1840 / PUBLISHED BY C. MEIGH / HANLEY. / ROMAN"
Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/384; Hughes 1/42; Rumsey 41

Apostle (not titled)
Design published on 17 March 1842.
Marks: impressed “Published by Charles Meigh, / Hanley, / March 17th, 1842” or applied “REGISTERED / March 17th, 1842, / By CHARLES MEIGH, / Hanley.”; later examples known with applied roundel mark “OHECL / HANLEY”
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/20 and 107; Hughes 1/45 and 205c; Rumsey 186-94; Wakefield Plate 15

 

 
Gothic Windows (not titled)
Design published on 17 March 1842.
Marks: applied “REGISTERED / March 17th, 1842, / By CHARLES MEIGH, / Hanley.” as on Apostle jug above
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/108-09; Hughes 1/46		  

Bacchanalian Dance (not titled)
Design registered on 30 September 1844, Parcel 7, Number 21960 by Charles Meigh of Hanley. Also made as one- and two-handled mugs with a special printed mark.
Marks: applied mark “SEPT. 30 1844 / REGISTd. / No. 21960 / CHARLES / MEIGH” with registration diamond and a coat-of-arms
Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/383; Henrywood RMJ/110-115; Hughes 1/48, 48a and 48b; Rumsey 5-12; Wakefield Plate 17

The sources for the two scenes have been traced as paintings by Sir Peter Paul Rubens ("Drunken Silenus") and Nicholas Poussin ("Bacchanalian Revel Before a Herm of Pan"). In both cases Meigh's modeller would have worked from contemporary engravings, not the original paintings.

 

 
"York Minster Jug"
Design registered on 12 November 1846, Parcel 3, Number 38068, by Charles Meigh of Hanley.
Marks: “NOV 12 1846 / REGISTD. No. 38068 / CHARLES MEIGH. / MINSTER JUG” around registration diamond; later examples known with applied roundel mark “OHECL / HANLEY”
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/116-17; Hughes 1/72; Rumsey 204-08; Wakefield Figure 4		  

"Trellis Jug"
Design registered on 18 September 1848, Parcel 4, Number 54487, by Charles Meigh of Hanley.
Marks: applied rustic-framed mark “TRELLIS JUG. / REGISTERED / SEP. 18, 1848. / No. 54487. / CHARLES MEIGH” with registration diamond.
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/118-19; Hughes 1/78

Bacchanal (not titled)
Design not registered. An engraving of the jug appeared in The Art-Jounal Illustrated Catalogue – The Industry of All Nations, 1851 ("..from the contributions of Messrs. Meigh & Son. The jug adorned with the vine exhibits a young Bacchanal imbibing the juice of the grape")
Marks: no marks yet recorded
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/120
Thistles (not titled)
Design registered on 13 November 1851, Parcel 2, Number 81518, by Charles Meigh & Son of Hanley..
Marks: registration diamond
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/121; Hughes 1/106		  

Four Seasons (not titled)
Design registered on 25 August 1852, Parcel 4, Number 86318, by Charles Meigh & Son of Hanley. The design was also used for a teapot.
Marks: applied registration diamond
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/122; Hughes 1/110; Rumsey 24-27
Flutes (not titled)
Design registered on 9 June 1854, Parcel 2, Number 96039, by Charles Meigh & Son of Hanley.
Marks: applied registration diamond
Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/385 		 

Amphitrite (not titled)
Design registered on 13 June 1856, Parcel 3, Number 105059, by Charles Meigh & Son of Hanley.
Marks: applied mark with maker's name and registration diamond, also known with later applied roundel mark “OHECL / HANLEY”
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/123 and Colour Plate X; Hughes 1/135; Rumsey 33-34

  
Honeysuckle (not titled)
Design not registered.
Marks: applied roundel mark “C. MEIGH & SON / HANLEY”
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/124-25 and Colour Plate X; Hughes 2/108

 

Spirals (not titled)
Design registered on 6 May 1861, Parcel 5, Numbers 140480-1, by the Old Hall Earthenware Co. Ltd. of Hanley.
Marks: moulded registration diamond with initials “OHECL” above
Illustrations: Hughes 2/p.103
"Prince Consort"
Design registered on 9 April 1862, Parcel 3, Number 150538, by the Old Hall Earthenware Co. Ltd. of Hanley
Marks: moulded registration diamond with initials “OHECL” above
Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/386; Henrywood RMJ/126; Hughes 1/162; Rumsey 239-40
Fuchsia (not titled)
Design not registered.
Marks: applied roundel mark “OHECL / HANLEY”
Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/388		  
Mask in Framing (not titled)
Design not registered.
Marks: applied roundel mark “OHECL / HANLEY”		  
Stylised Scrollwork (not titled)
Design not registered.
Marks: applied roundel mark “OHECL / HANLEY”
Illustrations: Hughes 2/177; Rumsey 106		    

"Wedgwood"
Design not registered.
Marks: applied roundel mark “OHECL / HANLEY”
Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/389; Hughes 1/193

Virtues (not titled)
Design not registered. The six titled virtues featured are Faith, Justice, Hope, Temperance, Fortitude and Prudence. The design may have originated in the earlier Charles Meigh & Son period.
Marks: applied roundel mark “OHECL / HANLEY”
Illustrations: Henrywood BJ/387; Hughes 1/111; Rumsey 28

Credits: Ken Carter; Guy Loveday; Jim McAuliffe; Phil Mernick; a private UK collection; Phil Ruthen; Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; Gildings Auctioneers Ltd, Market Harborough; David Lay, Penzance; Smiths of Newent Ltd.