Superb Scott's Southwick Sunderland Lustre Bowl

 

Lot 13.

A 19th century Sunderland lustre Scott's Southwick pottery circular bowl, the transfer printed panels include 'June','A West View of the Cast Iron Bridge over the River Wear built by R. Burdon Esq. Span 236 Feet, Height 100 Feet, Begun 24 Sept 1793 Open'd August 1796','The Milk Fetching Dog', 'Snapper and the Rabbits', 'Sailors Farewell, Sweet oh sweet is that sensation, Where two harts in union meet, But the pain of separation, mingles bitter with the sweet', 'The Sailor lost in stormy seas, Though for his bark may roam, Still hears a voice in every breeze, That wakens thoughts of home, He thinks upon his distant friends, His wife, his humble cot, And from his inmost heart ascends, The prayer - Forget me not' and 'I envy no one's birth or fame, Their title, train or dress, Nor has my pride  e'er stretch'd  its aim, Beyond what I possess, I ask not, wish not, to appear, More beauteous , rich or gay, Lord make me wiser every year, And better every day',D 31cm

Estimate £80-£120

For Auction 17.04.24

Transfer printing came to the North East in the 1750s achieving it's own distinctive north-eastern style in both Newcastle and Sunderland.  Recurring themes were based on the sea and sailors as the centre of an important shipping industry as well the iron bridge over the river Wear.  At the time of construction at the end of the 18th century this was the largest single span cast iron bridge in the world and the object of local pride.  Sentimental or humorous rhyme contained within a floral wreath were often added.  The authors of the rhymes have remained largely unknown and we are not much better informed as to the identities of the artists who drew or engraved the copper plates from which the pictorial transfers were made.

The Southwick or Scott's Pottery (1788-1896)

Situated very close to Thomas Snowball's High Southwick pottery, Scott's was after the turn of the century, one of the most important producers of lustre ware in the north east.  As well as having a large domestic market, the Southwick wares were in demand overseas.  The firm was run by succeeding generations of the Scott family, mostly bearing the Christian name of Anthony, trading as Scott brothers and Co., Anthony Scott & Co. and Anthony Scott & Sons at various times.  The firm's longevity meant they were one of the few to use transfer prints of the old Wear iron bridge and after 1859 of the new one.  By the 1870's the fortunes of the firm were on the decline with intense competition from both the Staffordshire potteries and European factories.  In 1896 the firm closed and the copper plates of Southwick Pottery were bought by William Ball and used at his Deptford pottery, Sunderland.