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No damage just a couple of minor manufacturing
flaws. • Style/technique:
Aesthetic print An excellent design a variation of the famous
Morris & Co 'Longden' pattern. In a trellis
or chequer with alternate sprigs and stylised
flowerheads but rather than trellis squares we
have octagons, quite an unusual feature. The
sprigs are budded and lushly foliated, the
sunflower-like flowerheads are bold and more
complex than most. Printed in a warm chocolate
brown on ivory clay. The design was registered to Wm J Fieldhouse
of Stephenson Street, Birmingham, one of a mere
eighteen known designs registered to Birmingham
addresses in the 25 years between 1884 and 1909
and a rare opportunity for a Brummie to get a
tile with genuine local interest. Fieldhouse
operated The Griffin Foundry a name known well
to midlands antique fireplace dealers and
Stephenson Street would have been their city
centre showroom and offices. This tile bears no identifying marks but I
have one in my collection with the printed
registration number and also printed marks for H
A Ollivant of Cliffe Vale, Stoke on Trent. Again
another interesting point as whilst most tile
manufacturers did make tiles to order for
clients this is the first that I am aware of for
sure made by Ollivants for another company. Verso very clean, slightly stained from the
original fitting in an iron fireplace,
unmarked. One tiny, two very tiny rim chips, perfect
surface apart from minor glazing flaws, no
crazing. No damage just minor glazing flaws, no
crazing. The image is full size at 72 dpi (about 430
pixels wide) in maximum quality JPEG format, a
larger 120 dpi image also in maximum quality JPEG
format can be forwarded by email if required. 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.
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