A most singular and demonstrative tile in
terms of both design and colour that will hold
its own and more amongst most collections of
superb tiles. A wonderful gothic design, light,
bright and cheerful gothic, if that's not an
oxymoron, with some classical influence. Rare
colouring the background to the outline print
painted in solid black and with three further
painted colours overglaze decorated. Shiny black
as any black car owner knows is most unforgiving
of even the tiniest marks so it was rarely used
and even more rarely has it successfully stood
the test of time. It appears that the outline
print was applied and then the black painted
first then the other colours painted (as they
spill over the black) and the tile fired
again.
* Interesting versos, in the group there are
Copeland dust pressed which are very uncommon
and the triple X usually seen on Doulton Lambeth
hand decorated tiles although since we have seen
another well known Copeland pattern on a triple
X biscuit. Doulton being mainly plumbing
fixtures and sanitaryware manufacturers had
trading relationships with many tile companies
including both the fiercely competitive Minton
Hollins and Mintons China Works. It is
considered more likely that these are the
product of Copeland then Doulton Lambeth Studios
with the distant third possibility of another
tile decorating specialist. It seems most likely
that Doulton and Copeland bought biscuit in from
the same supplier.
** Likewise difficult to date for sure the
decorating technique similar to that in use by
the Minton companies around 1870 but quite
possibly later 19thC as Doulton continued making
a variety of individual hand decorated tiles in
to the 20thC. The style suggests an earlier time
frame too but the pattern number if Doulton's
suggests later 19thC. 1865 - 1895 is as close as
I can suggest with any degree of certainty.
Copeland dust pressed biscuit is also of
uncertain date, it is considered unlikely that
they made their own but bought it in. It appears
that the dust pressed are quite early and they
reverted to plastic clay biscuit but this is by
no means certain. The triple X biscuit is
attributed to Minton Hollins by Austwick but
this is thought to be an error and more likely
made by Mintons China Works. Minton Hollins to
my knowledge did not make any unnamed tiles
whereas Mintons China Works did and apparently
one or more especially for Doulton. Doulton also
certainly had tiles made for them by Marsden and
Maw.
Versos soot stained and grubby with painted
pattern number, embossed W T Copeland etc or
XXX.
