Collectable Tiles

Rare Polychrome Printed Tile

Style/technique: Pictorial print

Manufacturer: Steele & Wood*

Dimensions: 6" x 6"

Date: circa 1882

A rare tile with a scene of a young girl and two boys on a small bridge across a stream one boy reaching down to apparently get something from the water. The designer is unknown, the tile apparently dates from the early 1880s. It is a fascinating design, the foliage in the background having an almost impressionist feel acting as the perfect backdrop to the figures, framed by trees to the sides and branches overhead and with a rather surreal colouring to the sky perhaps indicating approaching sunset. The design is not previously noted and appears to be purpose designed for this printing process. All the colours are underglaze which was a technical achievement for the date, Mintons China Works who specialised in multicolour printing with their employment of Alfred Reynolds the patentee of the block printing process were never able to achieve such printed colours underglaze.

*The attribution to Steele & Wood is believed to be correct and well advised but there remains a niggle of doubt. Most of their blanks bear no identification and are simple grids or rails often mistaken for Minton and Wedgwood respectively. The rail verso has been noted on tiles with designs by Jackson Bros, another company about whom little is known, and there is also the possibility of a connection with The Crystal Porcelain & Pottery Co. Taking the verso found on this tile to be indicative of Steele & Wood the following comments are appropriate, should the verso be later identified to be of either other company mentioned (or indeed any other) the comments are still true reflections of the evidence noted, just substitute the name.

Steele & Wood were an early tile maker active in the 1870s/80s that were likely considerably more prolific than generally thought due to lack of identification on the generic back patterns they most often used and few design registrations. They were in the forefront of design in the 1870s and 1880s with many bold characteristic contemporary patterns and were active in technical experimentation too. The most complex block printed tile I have seen was made by them and this is a rare example of another colour printing technique and possibly experimental. It appears that the outline was first printed then overprinted (perhaps with the block technique) with colours which were sufficiently translucent to permit the underlying outline print to show through. High quality wares especially the biscuit indeed a pair of fine art quality tile paintings by Lucien Besche on Steele & Wood biscuit were recently sold at auction.

Condition: Near perfect
Price: £180 (approx $350)
Ref: 02919

Small chip bottom right corner (not the light mark that is a miss in the colour), line below top edge is a printing flaw. Surface is perfect.

UK Special Delivery £188

US and World Airsure £195

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The image is a little oversize rather than cropped close to the edges so that the edges can easily be seen and any chips etc can be quickly spotted. Other marks described are usually not visible at all when the tile is viewed straight as one normally sees it and can only be seen with a critical eye when the tile is tilted to catch imperfections in reflected light. For more details of how we describe marks see Condition.

A few tiles have been seen identified as Jackson Brothers all being aesthetic and floral patterns typical of the 1880s. Little is known of the company and what evidence has been seen is inconclusive. Three different 6" versos have been noted, one the form of the typical Booth grid with reserve, another five simple rails with embossed, Jackson Bros, Shelton, Stoke upon Trent and another eight rails with triangle corners precisely the same and clearly from the same die as some with patterns attributed to Steele & Wood. Furthermore 4" tiles with their name have been noted which bear a strong resemblance to Minton Hollins who were located nearby.

I recall seeing a reference to Jackson Brothers of Shelton being potters and responsible for an innovation introducing a new very white clay but can not locate that reference, some of their tiles are especially white clay.

The natural conclusion, although requiring further evidence, is that Jackson Bros were potters who also decorated some tile biscuit bought in from Steele & Wood and/or possibly Booths, Minton Hollins and others or had patterns made for them by the major concerns. This would be very typical of what was going on in Stoke on Trent in the 1880s and 1890s as many potters seeking to take advantage of the boom in tiles decorated bought in biscuit. Jackson Bros are recorded as having registered 20 designs suitable for tiles.

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