A design that we see from time to time and
these are most unusual examples. A good
botanical pattern of blossoms and fruit on the
branch as is often the case blossom and fruit
shown at the same time. The fruit is Medlars
which was historically very common although it
is now rare. A very full design in the arts
& crafts 'all-over' taste more often found
on the celadon clay that Sherwins used and also
on white, see here
for an interesting comparison.
This tile is a real puzzlement, a top quality
floor quality tile made in extremely durable
semi-vitrified red clay, very dense and hence
heavy and it is rare to find them decorated. The
clay being semi-vitrified was less inclined to
accept decoration and limiting in colour, the
glaze hasn't taken particularly well and there
are some printing flaws. When I first saw it I
expected the print to be enamelled overglaze but
it is in fact underglaze as are all of the
colours including white.
* Unlikely to have been decorated by Craven
Dunnill, the biscuit is a standard floor tile
and would have been widely available. The
pattern number (it appears to be complete) is
very low, the design albeit from a different
engraving is more widely seen by Sherwin &
Cotton. It may well have been an experimental
trial piece by an unknown company/decorator.
Verso clean, Craven Dunnill etc embossed and
pattern number 77 printed.
