Uncovering the Story of “Texian Campaigne” Pattern Transferware
During the 19th century the English potteries centered in the county of Staffordshire developed a thriving business in transferware. The excellent Transferware Collectors Club website (www.transcollectorsclub.org) describes transferware as “the term given to pottery that has had a pattern applied by transferring the print from a copper plate to a specially sized paper and finally to the pottery body.” Originally the sturdy utilitarian wares, which included dinner services, tea and coffee sets, washstand sets, smoking sets, vases and cheese wheels, were decorated with the poplar blue designs copied from imported Chinese porcelains. Later the potters expanded the color selection to red, pink, purple, cranberry, brown, black, green, yellow, gray and various combinations of these colors. The pattern subjects became more diverse to appeal to domestic, European and foreign tastes.
The United States became a major market for transferware, even after the War of 1812. Pottery embellished with American scenes, patriotic figures and historic events found legions of buyers among the U.S. citizenry. Among the thousands of transferware patterns fashioned to appeal to Americans is “Texian Campaigne”. Texian was the original form for Texan. The historic battle scenes in the pattern center have been attributed to the war between Mexico and the United States (1846-1848). But recent research by members of the TCC indicates that the pattern was created before that war, and probably marketed to commemorate the Texan’s revolution for independence against Mexico, 1835 to 1836. Adding to the mix, the figures in the pattern appear dressed in European military uniforms. Thus, the Staffordshire firm of C.J. Mason around 1840 produced a “Napoleon” series of plates with similar soldiers depicting Napoleonic battles. It is an indication that the savvy Staffordshire potters designed their patterns for different markets by changing the titles. In any case, the Texian pattern remained popular over some decades, likely produced by a series of Staffordshire entrepreneurs from the same engraved copper plates.
Some pieces are unmarked and others bear marks on the back with the pattern name within a cartouche, and the maker’s initials or first name initial and last name of the maker. Usually the marked “Texian Campaigne” pieces bear one of three makers’ marks.. These can assist in dating them.
James Beech operated the Lion Works in Tunstall, sometimes with a partner, from 1821 to 1844. He probably introduced the Texian pattern about 1837 to 1840. His initials J.B. usually appear in the backstamp.
Thomas Walker operated the Lion Works from about 1844 until his death in 1852, having acquired James Beech’s equipment and patterns. Look for T.W. or T. Walker in the backstamp.
Anthony Shaw, operated in Tunstall and Burslem, both pottery centers, from 1851 to 1856. It is known that he bought copper pattern plates at the sale of Walker’s equipment.. The P4A database includes a number of Texian Campaigne pieces with A Shaw in the backstamp.
The TCC has documented some Texian pattern pieces with “Tampico” and “Valparaiso” in the backstamp, but without the “Texian Campaigne” mark. These are probably additional examples of the Staffordshire potters giving a new life to an earlier pattern. Tampico is a Mexican port city and the site of an 1835 battle between Mexican Federalists (opponents of Santa Anna) with an American volunteer contingent and Mexican Centralists, who won the battle with the Federalists.
The Texian Campaigne transferware is rare and usually brings relatively strong interest at auction, perhaps, due to its regional appeal. We are fortunate that the TCC collectors with their enthusiasm have uncovered more of the history of this appealing design.
References:
Texian Campaigne, Transferware Collectors Club, Wes Palmer, Andrew Pye and Connie Rogers. May 28, 2008.
Encyclopedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks, by Geoffrey A. Godden, Bonanza.
Reference note by Robert H. Goldberg, p4A editor and an Accredited Senior Member of the American Society of Appraisers from New Orleans, specializing in the appraisal of antiques and residential contents, January 2009. bvlgari carbongold watch replica cabestan winch tourbillon vertical watch replica
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