Ceramics handling collection - National Museums Scotland · National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack Ceramics handling collection What are ceramics? • Ceramics are

Ceramics handling collection

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National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack

Ceramics handling collectionTeachers notes

Welcome to the National Museum of Scotland.

Our ceramics handling collection contains 17 pieces from our collection and we encourage everyone to enjoy looking at and touching the objects to find out all about them.

These notes include:• Backgroundinformationonceramics.

• Detailsabouteachpiece.

• Ideasforquestions,thingstothinkaboutandtodiscusswithyour group.

NMS Good handling guideThe collection is used by lots of different groups so we’d like your help to keep the collection in good condition.

Please follow these guidelines for working with the objects and talk them through with your group.

1 Always wear gloves when handling the objects (provided)

2 Always hold objects over a table and hold them in two hands

3 Don’ttouchorpointatobjectswithpencils,pensorothersharpobjects

4 Check the objects at the start and the end of your session

5 Please report any missing or broken items using the enclosed form


Ceramics handling collectionWhat are ceramics?

• Ceramicsareobjectsmadefromclaymixedwithwaterandthen fired in a kiln.

• Therearethreetypesofceramics:porcelain,stonewareandearthenware (pottery).

• Ceramicshavebeenmadeforthousandsofyears.Theoldestknown ceramics are animal and human figures that date to around24,000BC.

• Ceramicsareusedformanypurposes-vases,tilesandsculptures.Oneofthemostcommonusesisfortableware-plates,bowls,cupsetc.

• Ceramicscanbeforpracticalordecorativepurposes–orbothat the same time!

• Ceramicscanbemadebyonepersonorinafactory,wheregroupsofpeopledesign,makeanddecoratetheobjects.

• Thepatternsandscenesusedtodecorateceramicsareofteninfluenced by local styles but makers and manufacturers also take on board styles and designs form other countries to meet demands and fashion.

Hand painted decorative platter from China


Ceramics handling collectionTypes of ceramic decoration

• Ceramicscanbedecoratedwithpaintandglazedtomakethemmore attractive.

• Untiltheintroductionoftransferprinting(seeover),allceramicshad to be decorated by hand. This was very time consuming andmadetheceramicobjectsmoreexpensive.

• Ceramicscanbedecoratedinavarietyofwaysincluding:

• Markingpatternsinthesurfaceoftheclaywhenitisstillwet.

• Under-glazedecoration–decorationisappliedtothesurfaceoftheobjectbeforeitisglazed.Theglazesealsthedecorationsoitcanneverruboff.Becausetheobjecthasonlybeenfiredonce,thissecondfiringhastobedoneata high temperature and this limits the colours that can be used.

• In-glazedecoration–decorationisappliedonthesurfaceoftheglazebeforeitisfiredsothepaintandtheglazedrytogether.

• Over-glazedecoration–decorationisappliedaftertheobjecthasbeenglazed.Whentheobjectisfiredthedecorationblendswiththeglazeandissealed.Becausethe object has already been fired twice (once before and onceaftertheglaze),thisfinalfiringcanbedoneatalowtemperature so lots of colours can be used.

• Enamel–powderedglassisfusedtotheobjectduringfiring.

Pottery factory interior showingaflat-pressermaking dishes


Ceramics handling collectionDecorative styles and inspiration for tableware

• Theceramictablewarethatweseeinshopsandkitchencupboardstodayisdecoratedinavarietyofstyles–someareplain,somehavesimpleblocksofcolour,somegeometricpatternsandsomefloral prints. Styles of ceramic decoration change over the years and are often influenced by fashion.

• Inthe18thand19thcenturies,ceramicfactoriesinBritainproduced tableware and other ceramics with designs inspired by patternsandstylesfromchinaandtheFarEast.

• InparticularBritishmanufacturerswereseekingtocopythemuchadmired Chinese ‘blue and white’ porcelain. Popular blue and whitedesignsincludedChinesedragons,pagodascenes(atypeofChinesebuilding),exoticflowersandbirds,elephantsandthe‘willow pattern’ which tells the story of two star crossed lovers who areimmortalizedbytheGodsastwodoveseternallyflyingtogetherin the sky.

• Thesewerepaintedinblueontoawhitebackground.

• SomedesignsusedtheChineseblueandwhitestylebutreplacedChineselandscapeswithscenesfromtheEnglishcountryside.

DetailofChineseblueandwhitestyledish


Ceramics handling collectionTransfer printing

• Transferprintingwasintroducedinthelate18thcenturyasa way of cheaply applying designs on ceramics.

• Thismeantthatpatternedceramicscouldbemassproduced and were more affordable.

• Transferprintingprocess:

1. A copper plate was engraved with the design

2. The design was printed onto a sheet of thin paper

3. The paper was be applied to the ceramic object

4.Whentheobjectwasfired,thepaperburnedoffleaving the design on the plate

5.Theplatewasthenglazedtopreservethedesign

• Aseparatetransferwasneededforeachcolour.Thismeantthat only limited colours could be used.

Woman applying gold print transfers to ware at Wedgewood factory

Detailoftransferprinteddish


Ceramics handling collectionHow to identify ceramics

• Wecanusuallyidentifyaceramicobjectbyits‘mark’.Thisisthe writing or symbol that appears on the base of the object.

• Markswereusedoriginallytoletshopsknowthenameofthemanufacturer so that they could order more.

• Themarkcouldalsobeaguaranteeofahighqualitydesignormanufacture.

• Marksareusefultousastheycantellusthemanufacturerandsometimes the date of a ceramic object.

Makers’ marks• Ceramicmarkscanbeappliedinfourways:

1.Incised–themarkisincisedorengravedbyhandintothe soft clay as the object is being made.

2.Impressed–astampispressedintothesoftclayasthe objectisbeingmade.Itisneaterthananincisedmark.

3.Painted–themakerwritestheirnameorinitialsunderor overtheglazewhentheobjectisbeingdecorated.

4.Printed–themarkistransferredfromanengravedcopper platebeforetheglazeisadded.

• Itisimportanttoknowhowacompanyappliedtheirmarksasthis can help identify fake marks.

• Someceramicobjectsalsocarryregistrationmarks.Thesecantell us when the company registered the design on the object.


Ceramics handling collectionContents

Porcelain1a. Porcelain tea bowl

1b. Porcelain saucer

2. Teacup

Stoneware3a.Dinnerplate

3b. Starter plate

3c. Tureen stand

3d. Serving plate

4.Decorativeplatter

5.Blueandwhitedish

Earthenware6a.Blueandredbowl

6b. Red and blue bowl

6c.Greenandredbowl

6d. Red and green bowl

7a.Blueandwhiteearthenwaredish-easternscene

7b.Blueandwhiteearthenwaredish-elephantscene

7c.Blueandwhiteearthenwaredish-countryscene

8.Earthenwareteabowl


Ceramics handling collectionPorcelain

• Itisverywhiteandshinybecauseitcontainsthemineral‘kaolin’ and is fired at a very high temperature. This causes the clay to partially turn into glass.

• Porcelainisthefinesttexturedofallceramics.

• Thename‘porcelain’comesfromtheItalianword‘porcellana’ which means ‘cowrie shell’. This is because porcelain is translucent (see through) and looks like the translucent surface of the shell.

• Porcelainisnonporous(itcanbeusedtoholdliquid)andvery hard which makes it difficult to scratch. This is why it is perfect for tableware.

• Porcelainisveryhard,butalsoverybrittle.Itshatterseasilyif it is dropped or struck with something hard.

• Porcelainisoftencalled‘china’becauseitwasfirstmadeinChinaover2000yearsago.

• Chinesemakersofporcelainkeptthemanufacturingprocesssecret.Europeanfactoriesdidnotlearnhowtomakeporcelainuntilthe1750sandbeforethistheyhadtoimport it from China.

• AlthoughporcelaincouldnowbemadeinBritain,itwassorareandexpensivethatonlyveryrichpeoplecouldaffordit.

• Stoneware and earthenware were cheaper alternatives to porcelain.

Porcelainisextremelybeautiful and is the most highlyprizedceramicbecause it is so thin and translucent.

Fab fact!



1a. Porcelain tea bowl & 1b Porcelain saucer These pieces are very old and fragile. Please take care

when handling them.

• ThisteabowlandsauceraremadefromWorcesterporcelain.

• TheWorcesterporcelainfactorywasfoundedin1751.Theporcelaintheyproducedwassuchhighqualitythatin1789thefactorywasgivenaRoyalWarrantbyKingGeorgeIII.

• Thecupisknownasa’teabowl’becauseithasnohandle.TeaoriginatedintheFarEastandtheyusedteabowlslikethis to drink it.

• Theteabowlissmallbecauseatthetimeitwasmade,teawasstillanexpensivecommodity.

• TheWorcesterporcelainfactoryisstillaworkingfactory.Itcelebratedits250thanniversaryin2001.

• Thegolddecorationiscalled‘gilt’andisactualgoldleafwhich has been fired onto the porcelain.

Feel the soft ridges that run round the edge of the cup and saucer and down their sides. This is known as ‘scalloping’.

Hold the pieces carefully up to the light and waggle your fingers behind them. Can you see your fingers through the porcelain?

See

The cup and saucer have averydelicatepattern.Doyou think it would have been hand painted or transfer printed?

Think

Touch

Investigating the makers markLook for the maker’s mark on the base? Can you describe it?

• ThemarkonthebaseofbothpiecesistheWorcester‘crescentmark’.

• Thecrescentmarkdatesthesepiecestotheperiodbetween1751and1783whenthefactorywasownedbyDrJohnWall.

• Anewmarkwasintroducedin1862.ThiswasacrownandcircleandisstillthestandardWorcester porcelain mark today.



2. Teacup• Thisisablueandwhiteporcelaintransferprintedteacup.

• ItwasmadebyWedgwood,achinacompanyfoundedin1759byJosiahWedgwoodI.Thecompanyisstillrunningtoday.

• Wedgwoodwasknownas‘thefatherofEnglishpotters’and the ceramics the company produced are very well known.

• Wedgwoodproducedporcelainproductslikethisteacup,butwerebestknownforproducingcreamware,amass-produced,highquality,lightanddurableceramicwhichwasverypopularastableware.Itwasalsocheapersomorepeople could afford to buy it.

• ThedesignshowsaChineselandscape.

• Thegoldgrapevinearoundtheedgeisnotpartoftheoriginal design and would have been added by someone at a later date.

Hold the teacup by the handle–doesthismakeiteasier or harder to hold than a tea bowl?

Hold the piece carefully up to the light and waggle your fingers behind it. Can you see your fingers through the porcelain?

See

Look at where the poorly applied gold border has wornoff–whydoyouthink it was put on?

Think

Touch


• ThemarkisaprintedmarkwiththenameWedgwood.

• Wedgwoodstartedtoadddatestotheirmarksafter1860andasthisonedoesnothaveadate,thattellsusthatitwasmadebefore1860.

• Wedgwoodmarkswereusuallyimpressedbutweresometimesprintedonporcelain.Thismarkwasprintedineitherblue,redorgoldandtellsusthatthepiecedatesfrom1812-22.


Ceramics handling collectionStoneware

• Stonewareisdifferenttoporcelain.Itisopaque,nottranslucent.

• Stonewareisavitreousceramic.Vitreousmeans‘likeglass’and stoneware has a glassy look when it is finished.

• Stonewareisabrowncolourwhenitisundecorated.Forthisreasonitwasnotashighlyprizedaswhiteporcelain.

• Stonewareisveryheavyforitssize.

• Itissturdy,nonporousanddoesnotchiporscratcheasilyso,likeporcelain,itisperfectfortableware.

• Likeporcelain,stonewarehastobefiredataveryhightemperature.Untilthe1750sandtheIndustrialRevolution,theBritishfactorieswereunabletodothissowerelimited to using earthenware as it can be fired at a lower temperature.

Stoneware gets its name because it is so hard it is like stone.

Fab fact!



3a - d. Dinner plate, starter plate, tureen stand and serving plate

• Theseitemsarepartofacompletedinnerset.

• TheyweremadebyWilliamRidgway,SonandCompanyattheBellWorksfactoryinShelton,England.

• TheBellWorkswereinBethesdaStreetinSheltonandthisis now the site of the Potteries Museum.

• Thesearemadefrom‘Imperialstone’whichisatypeofstoneware.

• ThepatternisinspiredbystylesanddesignsfromChinaandtheFarEastwithvasesandexoticflowers.

• Factoriesproducedmanydifferentpatterns–eachonewith its own name. We don’t know the name of this pattern.

• Themainbluedesignhasbeenprintedontotheplatesandthecolourhandpaintedontopoftheglaze.

You can feel where the colour has been hand paintedon-itisraisedslightly from the rest of the plate.

Look at the chips in the servingplate–youcanseethe brown colour of the unpainted stoneware.

See

Some pattern names include‘Belisarius’andNapier’. Can you think up a name for this pattern?

Think

Touch


• Themarkisaprintedmark,whichincorporatestheinitialsofthecompany(WR.S.&Co)andtellsuswhatthepiecesaremadefrom(ImperialStone)

• Thismarkdatesthepiecestobetween1838and1848.

• Thethreelargerplatesalsohaveimpressedmarksthatsay‘Improvedstone’.

a b

c d



4. Decorative platter• Unliketheotheritems,thisplatewasmadeinChina.Itwas

designedforexporttoEurope.

• ItisheavierthanBritishstoneware.

• Becauseoftherangeofcoloursused,thisplatewouldhavebeenhand-paintedratherthanprinted.

• Theplateishighlydecoratedandwasprobablyfordisplayrather than eating.

• ThedesignisastandardChinesescenethatmayhavebeeninspired by a scene from an opera or a drama.

• Themotifsaroundtheedgeofthesceneincludebutterflies,afruitbasket,afanandanexoticbird.

• Differenttechniqueshavebeenusedtocreatearangeoftexturesinthepaint.

Compare this plate with theblueandwhiteBritishstoneware dish. This one is much heavier which indicates a different manufacturing process.

Look at the range of colours used.Doyouthinktheywork well together?

See

What do you think is happening in the scene?

Think

Touch


• Thispaintedmarkthattellsustheplatewasmadebetween1850and1861duringthereignofEmperorXianfengintheQingdynasty.

• ThemarkiswritteninZhuanshuwhichisanancienttypeofscript,ratherthaninnormalChinese writing.



5. Blue and white dish• Thisisatypical‘blueandwhite’dishmadebytheMason

familyofpotters.TheyrantheLaneDelphfactoryinStaffordshirefromc1800toc1854.

• IthasatypicalChineseinspiredsceneofexoticflowersandbirds.Thepatterniscalled‘BluePheasants’anddatesfromaround1820.

• Thepatternistransferprinted.

• Thedishismadeform‘Mason’sPatentIronstoneChina’.This type of pottery was produced to provide a cheap substituteforChineseporcelain.ItwaspatentedbyMasonsin1813.

• Thename‘IronstoneChina’wasimmediatelyidentifiable.Itstoodforhighqualityandshowedthatthechinawasashard and durable as iron.

Touch the surface of the plate. Can you feel the small bumpsintheglaze?Whatdo you think caused them?

Can you see the white line on the rim of the plate where the transfer didn’t join up correctly?

See

Masons produced about 90differentpatterns.What other subjects do you think might appear inthepatterns?Dragons?Flowers?

Think

Touch


• ThemarkisthestandardprintedmarkthatappearedonallMasonIronwarefrom1815.

• Thereisalsoanimpressedmark‘mason’sPatentIronstoneChina’whichwasusedfrom1813.


Ceramics handling collectionEarthenware

• ItwasusedbytheEuropeansuntiltheydiscoveredhowtomake stoneware and porcelain.

• Earthenwareiseasiertomakethateitherstonewareorporcelain because it does not need to be fired at such a high temperature.

• Earthenware,orpottery,isaporousmaterial.Thismeansitcannotbeusedtostoreliquidunlessitisglazed.

• Forthisreason,earthenwareisusuallyglazed.Glazeisaglassy coating that makes an object waterproof.

• Glazecanalsoprotectearthenwarefromdamageasitisnot very strong and is easily scratched.

Earthenwareistheoldesttype of ceramic in the worldandexampleshave been found that are thousands of years old.

Fab fact!



6a – d. Red, blue and green bowls• TheseweremadebyJohnandMatthewPerstonBell&

Company,aGlasgowbasedcompanyworkingbetween1842and1928.

• ThecompanywasthelargestScottishpotterycompany.

• Thebowlsaremadefromearthenware.Theymayhavebeen used for food or may have been simply decorative.

• Thetwocolourtransfer-printedpattern,wherethecentraldesign and borders are different colours was a design innovationintroducedbyBells.

• ThebowlsweremadeforexporttosoutheastAsia.

• Thebowlsoftencameinpairswiththesamedesigninreversed colours.

• Thepatternsonthebowlsincorporatehummingbirds,butterflies,peacocks,dragonsandlions,vasesofflowers,palmtrees,cloudsandfeathers.

Feel the impressed bell mark.

On the base of two of the plates you can see where they were ‘thrown’ (made) on the potter’s wheel.

See

Look at the designs. Can you find and identify all of the plants and animals in the patterns?

Think

Touch a b

c d


Ceramics handling collectionInvestigating the makers markLook for the maker’s mark on the bases? Can you describe it?

• Themarksarestampedmarks.Theyincludeabell-thePerstonBellcompanylogo,thecompanyinitials,theregistrationnumberofthedesignandnameofthedesign.

• Thecompanyinitialsinclude‘Ltd’.PerstonBellbecameaLimitedCompanyin1880whichdatesthebowlsto1880orlater.

• Designnames: 5a.Bluewithredborder:IkanChina

5b.Redwithblueborder:Kwantung 5c.Greenwithredborder:Makassar 5d.Redwithgreenborder:BurungKupu

• Eachbowlalsohasanimpressedmarkintheshapeofabell.



Feel how thick this bowl is and compare it to the other blue and white bowls.

The shade of blue used in this bowl is much darker than in some of the other items.

See

Why do you think this bowl wasdesignedforexporttoAsia–whereporcelainhadbeen produced for centuries longbeforethetechniqueswereadoptedinEurope?

Think

Touch

7a. Blue and white earthenware dish– Eastern scene

• Thisisa‘blueandwhite’dishmadebyJohnandMatthewPerstonBell&Company.

• Thedesignistransferprintedinasinglecolour.

• Likethered,blueandgreenbowls,thisonewasalsodesignedforexporttoeastAsia.

• Thecentreshowsadragonandabirdwithlargefeathers.Theborderpatternhasfourframesfilledwithoctopus-liketentacles. The frames are separated by a scale pattern.


• Themarkisastampedmarkwhichhasthecompanylogo(abell)andinitialsaswellastheregistration number of the design and name of the design.

• ThenameofthedesignisKeelinHong.

• Thecompanyinitialsinclude‘Ltd’.PerstonBellbecameaLimitedCompanyin1880–whichdatesthebowlsto1880orlater.

• Thebowlalsohasanimpressedmarkintheshapeofabell.



7b. Blue and white earthenware dish– elephant scene

• Thisisa‘blueandwhite’transferprinteddish,producedbytheRogerspotteryinDaleHall,Staffordshire.

• Thepatternonthisdishwascalled‘Elephant’bytheWedgwood factory when they took over the design in the late1800s.

• ThedesignshowsamanleadinganelephantintheChinese countryside with pagodas in the background.

• AlthoughthisdishisearthenwareandtheRogerspotterymainlyproducedearthenware,theyalsodevelopedsemi-porcelainandstoneware,improvingthequalityanddelicateness of the body and the printing.

• In1842theRogersPotterypassedtoJamesEdwards.Edwardsestablisheditasafamilybusiness,whichcontinuedtotradeatDaleHalluntil1882.

Feel the small bumps around the edge of the bowl. These are called scalloped edges.

The elaborate pattern and different shades of blue mean that a sophisticated transfer process would have been needed.

See

Veryoften,thepeoplewhodesigned the plates had never been to China and weredrawingthings,likethiselephant,thattheyhadnever seen before!

Think

Touch


• ThemarkisanimpressedmarkwiththenameRogers.

• SomeoftheRogerspotterywasunmarked.



7c. Blue and white earthenware dish country scene

• Thisisa‘blueandwhite’dishmadebytheDavenportpotteryatLongford,Englandwhichoperatedfrom1793–1887.Davenportbeganwithearthenwareandstartedmakingporcelainin1815.

• Thedesignistransferprintedbutunliketheotherblueandwhiteplatesinthiscollection,ithasanEnglishcountry scene with two figures and a country house in the background.

• Wedonotknowthenameofthedesign.

• Davenportmadelargeamountsofunder-glazebluetransfer printed earthenware and blue varies from a light to a medium color.

Feel the weight of the bowl. Itismuchlighterthansome of the other earthenware. Why do you think this is?

This bowl is very thin like porcelain but if you hold it up to the light you will see that it is not translucent.

See

Why do you think the design incorporatedanEnglishcountry scene rather than a scene inspired by Chinese landscapes?

Think

Touch


• ThemarkisanimpressedmarkwithananchorandthenameDavenport.

• Thisstyleofmarkwasusedbetween1810and1825anddatesthedishtothisperiod.



8. Earthenware tea bowl• Thisisatransferprintedteabowl.

• Thepoorqualityofthetransfersuggeststhatitmayhavebeen like a factory second.

• Thedesignshowsputti(wingedchildren)pullingasheepand a lion.

• Puttiwereapopularfeatureofceramicdecorationinthe19thcentury.

Tap the bowl with your fingernail.Itgivesoffadull ‘clunk’ sound. The porcelain Wedgwood cup gives off a light ‘clink’ sound.

The grapevine transfer on the inside edge of the bowl is similar to the gold one on the Wedgwood teacup.

See

You can see where the transfer ink has run. What do you think caused this?

Think

Touch


• Thisteabowlisunmarked.

• Inthe1800sthereweresomanyfactoriesproducingsomanyitemslikethisthatsomedidn’t bother to mark them.

• Becausethereisnomarkontheteabowlwedon’tknowwhereitcamefromorwhenit was made.

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Ceramics handling collection - National Museums Scotland · National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack Ceramics handling collection What are ceramics? • Ceramics are