Type Name:

PEARLWARE, HAND PAINTED POLYCHROME, LATE

Category:

REFINED EARTHENWARE

Production Origin:

ENGLAND

Production Date Range:

1830-1840

Defining Attributes:

White to light cream-colored, thin, hard refined earthenware paste.

White to faint bluish white clear lead glaze, caused by the addition of cobalt to the glaze. There is a bluish cast where the glaze pools.

Hand painted floral designs, initially in brown, mustard, yellow and olive green, and, after 1830, pinkish-red, black, light blue, and light green shades were added to the palette.

Vessel Forms:

BOWL
CUP
PLATTER
SAUCER

Comments:

This type was popular among the poorer classes. The paste of pearlware produced after 1810 is heavier and whiter with a harder glaze that may vary in color from almost clear to deeply bluish tinted.

Published Definitions:

Noel Hume 1969, South 1977, Miller 1991