Henrywood – Relief-Moulded Jugs

Published Designs

Publication marks date from an Act of Parliament of 1798 which was passed “for encouraging the art of making new models and casts of busts, and other things therein mentioned”. The purpose was to provide designers with protection against their works being copied and it seems to have been directed predominantly at sculptors. However, the provisions covered any cast, and hence moulded, object decorated with human or animal figures and some makers of moulded jugs marked their wares in such a way as to claim the available protection. The original act of 1798 granted protection for fourteen years but a second act was passed in 1814 to make the provisions more effective. Amongst other changes, this allowed the original designer a further fourteen years protection.

The wording of publication marks on ceramics follows a fairly standard format which was dictated by the act. Its first use on moulded jugs came in 1834, and although it was effectively superseded by the registration system of 1842, some makers, particularly Ridgway & Abington, continued to use the system well into the 1850s. The following list includes all recorded publication marks related to relief-moulded jugs, some of which, featuring no human or animal figures, would seem not to qualify!

Date	Manufacturer	Design
20 June 1834	Machin & Potts, Burslem	“Burns”
1 October 1835	William Ridgway & Co., Hanley	Tam O’Shanter (not titled) Note 1
1 September 1838	Elijah Jones, Cobridge	Coral (not titled)
1 September 1838	Elijah Jones, Cobridge	Vertical Leaves (not titled) Note 2
1 November 1839	Charles Meigh, Hanley	“Julius Caesar” or "Albion"
1 July 1840	Elijah Jones, Cobridge	“Basket”
1 July 1840	Elijah Jones, Cobridge	“Elizabethan”
1 September 1840	William Ridgway, Son & Co., Hanley	Eglinton (not titled)
1 October 1840	Charles Meigh, Hanley	“Roman”
1 January 1841	Wood & Brownfield, Cobridge	Willie Brew'd a Peck o' Maut (not titled)
1 January 1841	Wood & Brownfield, Cobridge	Vertical Hops (not titled)
30 September 1841	Wood & Brownfield, Cobridge	Judgment of Solomon (not titled)
1 November 1841	Jones & Walley, Cobridge	“Good Samaritan”
17 March 1842	Charles Meigh, Hanley	Apostle (not titled) Note 3
1 July 1842	Jones & Walley, Cobridge	“Gipsey” Note 4
1 July 1842	Samuel Alcock & Co., Burslem	Gipsy (not titled) Note 4
May 1849	Edward Walley, Cobridge	"Hecate”
1 January 1853	Ridgway & Abington, Hanley	Uncle Tom’s Cabin (not titled)
1 January 1855	Ridgway & Abington, Hanley	Dunmow Flitch (not titled)
1 August 1855	Ridgway & Abington, Hanley	Three Soldiers (not titled)
1 January 1858	Ridgway & Abington, Hanley	Moses (not titled)

Notes
1.         The William Ridgway & Co. 1835 mark was used on variants with linenfold or no surface moulding. It is also found on several other later designs, and was almost certainly used into the early 20th century. the word “England” sometimes appearing.
2.         The year of the Vertical Leaves jug is unclear.
3.         The Charles Meigh Apostle jug is found with wording “Published” or “Registered” although the registration system did not come into effect until later in 1842. The mark is also found on the untitled Gothic Windows variant.
4.         The 1842 Gipsy design was jointly published by Jones & Walley and Alcock. Jones & Walley jugs are titled “Gipsey” and potted in stoneware. The Alcock jugs are not titled and are usually, but not always, in parian.

Credits: Max Beaumont Fine Art & Consultancy; Ken Carter; Phil Mernick