Produced in all the major British ceramic centers from about 1805 to 1870, lustre ware of all types was created by introducing a metalic solution to the base pottery before firing. This solution was most often a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids – called aqua regia – plus the metalic element required to produce the desired color. The addition of platium and arsenic produced a sliver lustre, gold in aqua regia produced either a pink or copper lustre depending on whether it was applied to a light colored or dark colored base.

Sunderland lustre ware with its mottled pink features is named after the town in the North of England on the banks of the River Wear where a great deal of it was manufactured. Its mottled character was achieved by applying small quantities of oil to the lustre solution after it had been washed onto the base. The oil produced splashes and bubbles on the washed surface which gave the fired piece its mottled appearance.