Dinnerware

[LadyReb]

Does anyone have a book of correct patterns for dinnerware?

I am trying to learn if J & G Meakin's green patterned sterling Renaissance would be correct for our period.

Evelyn Rard

[Rob Weaver]

Re: Dinnerware

I would recommend spending time in any reputable bookstore looking at books on antique china. Because of it's collectability and datability, our collecting brethren have taken a lot of the guesswork out of dating household items like table service.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Dinnerware

... if J & G Meakin's green patterned sterling Renaissance would be correct for our period....

I don't think it is. Meakin's ''Sterling" mark and pattern is circa 1970

I'll try to run down a period backmark.

***

Newtown Pottery Earthenware Manufacturers until 1863. Eagle Pottery from 1864 until just after WW2

Founders:
* James Meakin : 1807 - 1852.
* James Meakin : 1830 - 1885 sons of James.
* George Meakin : 1832 - 1891 Meakin the elder.

Major factory sites:
* 1846 - 1850: James Meakin, China & Earthenware, Newtown Pottery, High Street, Longton.
* 1850 - 1856: James Meakin, China & Earthenware, Cannon Street, Shelton.
* 1853 - 1860: James & George Meakin, Earthenware Manufacturers, Market Street, Hanley.
* 1859 - c1980: J&G Meakin, Earthenware Manufacturers, Eagle Pottery, Ivy House Road, Hanley.

[Drygoods]

Re: Dinnerware

I have some old Meakin which is the ironstone with gold and a slightly lustered finish. The other thing I'd like to mention is that I've heard, well among those friends of mine who collect, we use the street term of Meeks I don't know if that is just my area, but the lady who uses it most is well near 80 years old, and she was the one who taught it to us.

I'd have to agree with the other suggestion that to date a particular pattern, check out the reference guides, certainly look at more than one or two. I've noticed in the many years I've researched dishware and dinning that some guides don't agree with each other. Be patient but always keep looking (researching).

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Dinnerware

It's a 1970's Pattern.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Dinnerware

Hailing from the 1970s, that particular pattern would be well nigh onto a century past the date of the era, so that won't work. Neither does conventional wisdom from the early 19-teens always translate back to the mid-1800s.

I'll ditto the excellent suggestion to take a peek at antique guides at the library, Evelyn--I've found them wonderfully helpful in trying to get my eye used to common styles of various material culture items. It makes recognizing what modern items can "make the jump" for period style so much easier. After all, bill inspectors for the Treasury are trained to spot fakes by handling hundreds of thousands of real bills, so they can "feel" the fake right off the bat. Training our eye by looking at every example of solidly-dated material culture as we can works the same way... we get a feel for what *is* normal for a particular era, and can find it more easily.

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

Re: Dinnerware

This may be an abreviated help:

http://www.thepotteries.org/mark/m/meakin_jg.html

I too seem to be a Meakin fan since each time I pick something up that catches my eye at a yardsale 8 out of 10 times it turns out to be J & G Meakin.

Anna Worden

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Dinnerware

Here is a solid period Meakin backmark, one of several. "Priory" is the pattern.

Circa 1855

[LadyReb]

Re: Dinnerware

I would recommend spending time in any reputable bookstore looking at books on antique china. Because of it's collectability and datability, our collecting brethren have taken a lot of the guesswork out of dating household items like table service.

Thanks, Rob

Evelyn Rard

[LadyReb]

Re: Dinnerware

I don't think it is. Meakin's ''Sterling" mark and pattern is circa 1970

I'll try to run down a period backmark.

***

Newtown Pottery Earthenware Manufacturers until 1863. Eagle Pottery from 1864 until just after WW2

Founders:
* James Meakin : 1807 - 1852.
* James Meakin : 1830 - 1885 sons of James.
* George Meakin : 1832 - 1891 Meakin the elder.

Major factory sites:
* 1846 - 1850: James Meakin, China & Earthenware, Newtown Pottery, High Street, Longton.
* 1850 - 1856: James Meakin, China & Earthenware, Cannon Street, Shelton.
* 1853 - 1860: James & George Meakin, Earthenware Manufacturers, Market Street, Hanley.
* 1859 - c1980: J&G Meakin, Earthenware Manufacturers, Eagle Pottery, Ivy House Road, Hanley.

That is very helpful. I will keep this info for further use.

Thank you
Evelyn Rard

[LadyReb]

Re: Dinnerware

I have some old Meakin which is the ironstone with gold and a slightly lustered finish. The other thing I'd like to mention is that I've heard, well among those friends of mine who collect, we use the street term of Meeks I don't know if that is just my area, but the lady who uses it most is well near 80 years old, and she was the one who taught it to us.

I'd have to agree with the other suggestion that to date a particular pattern, check out the reference guides, certainly look at more than one or two. I've noticed in the many years I've researched dishware and dinning that some guides don't agree with each other. Be patient but always keep looking (researching).

I love Meakin. Can't get enough.

Evelyn Rard

[LadyReb]

Re: Dinnerware

Hailing from the 1970s, that particular pattern would be well nigh onto a century past the date of the era, so that won't work. Neither does conventional wisdom from the early 19-teens always translate back to the mid-1800s.

I'll ditto the excellent suggestion to take a peek at antique guides at the library, Evelyn--I've found them wonderfully helpful in trying to get my eye used to common styles of various material culture items. It makes recognizing what modern items can "make the jump" for period style so much easier. After all, bill inspectors for the Treasury are trained to spot fakes by handling hundreds of thousands of real bills, so they can "feel" the fake right off the bat. Training our eye by looking at every example of solidly-dated material culture as we can works the same way... we get a feel for what *is* normal for a particular era, and can find it more easily.

It is very dissapointing that this is from the 1900s because it is such a lovely pattern. I so wanted to use it for my impression.

Thanks for your help.
Evelyn Rard

[LadyReb]

Re: Dinnerware

This may be an abreviated help:

http://www.thepotteries.org/mark/m/meakin_jg.html

I too seem to be a Meakin fan since each time I pick something up that catches my eye at a yardsale 8 out of 10 times it turns out to be J & G Meakin.

Anna Worden

Thank you for the link. That is a great help. I never get a chance to go to yard sales so I guess I am missing out on a lot of goodies.

Evelyn Rard

[LadyReb]

Re: Dinnerware

Here is a solid period Meakin backmark, one of several. "Priory" is the pattern.

Circa 1855

Thank you for posting that image. You guys have been a great help.

Thanks to everyone who answered.

Evelyn Rard