Ceramics Mason’s Patent Ironstone China

1 5 The story of the Mason’s is a phenomenon of ceramics history still alive and well to this day. It begins with Miles Mason, one of a group of ‘chinamen’ or dealers who vied at keyside auctions for the china, imported into England as ballast by the East India Company. There was a fall out when the company accused the dealers of ringing, and the dispute ended in court with neither side victorious. The Company Mason’s ironstone dinner Mason?s Ironstone part had the last word as they stopped the importation of the precious china, so much in service, c1820, each piece dinner service c1840s, some demand in eighteenth century England. This dearth of china helped spawn the painted in underglaze blue, damage. 70 pieces. iron-red, green, pink and Hamptons, Godalming. Jul 00. English hard-pastes and pearlware which largely took its place. Miles gilding with a central floral HP: £2,500. ABP: £2,950. Mason became a manufacturer. His activities can be traced to the Islington spray within a conforming in Liverpool from 1792-1800, the Victoria Pottery, c1800-1806 and Minerva Works, border with stylised 6 1806-1816, both at Lane Delph. During the 1792-1816 period he was also involved flowerhead edge. Sotheby’s, in the production of of the hard-paste type. In 1813, two of his sons, G M Billingshurst. Nov 99. HP: and C J Mason introduced their famous Mason’s Patent Ironstone China, one of the £5,800. ABP: £6,844. finest and most durable bodies in the history of ceramics, which when thinly potted 2 is semi-translucent. 200 years has not dimmed the supreme quality of these produc- tions, and rare pieces remain the targets of collectors worldwide. Morley followed Mason’s Ironstone dinner the Mason’s, and then Ashworth to 1880 and the story re-commences once more in service, c1840: seven soup the twentieth century and beyond to this day. However, after the Mason’s tenure the plates, 12 dinner plates, 24 body and the quality of production deteriorated. dessert/fish plates, 12 side Here I am not concerned with the post 1845 wares, or twentieth century modern plates, a fruit bowl and ten Mason or the last few years of reproductions. All that seriously matters to most Extensive Masons Ironstone meat dishes in various sizes collectors is that first 32 years and many like myself are seeking only the earliest service: meat dish 19in, meat and a fish strainer. (77) dish 19.25in, 2 meat dishes Sworders, Stansted impressed and ‘crown and curtain’ printed marks extant from 1813 to c1829. The 16.5in, meat dish 15in, tureen/ Mountfitchet. Feb 05. HP: price guide here covers mainly that early period and as one can expect it is the cover, blue lion mask handles £2,400. ABP: £2,832. services which command the highest prices. At 3 are a pair of the most magnificent 14in, oval strainer 14.5in, vases the factory could produce. At 22 inches in height, no doubt a special order, pair sauce tureens/covers/ Images are in descending they are as impressive as anything produced in the Orient then or since. At 9 and 10 stands 6.5in, pair of pierced hammer price order. The are an extremely rare footbath and footbath jug. Unlike 3 both are marked, but their fruit dishes 11in, pair of jars/ price range is indicated at pedigree is unmistakable, marked or not. Mason also produced wares for the top end covers 12.5in, oval tazza the start of each section. of the ceramics market and at 12 the neapolitan ewer is a fine example. At 28 inches 11in, 2 sauce dishes/with one stand 8in, square dish/cover in height it is a triumph of achievement, not reflected in the poor price, although 9in, dish and cover 11.5in, values have been slipping over the last twenty years along with the whole of the 7 square dish 9in, pair square English ceramics output. Mason’s overwhelmingly concentrated on the Japanese shaped dishes 8in, 9 plates, taste, but at 18 are a pair of twin-handled vases and covers, clearly late in pierced borders 8.5in; oval respect of the early period, but still commanding almost a £1,000 despite extensive dish 9.75in, 7 dishes 11in, 22 restorations. The pair of water jugs at 19 also look to be post 1830 and whilst not soup dishes 9in, stand 7in, 28 large at only 8 inches in height, collector competition ensured a good price. There plates 9.5in, 16 plates 8.5in can hardly be a shape or form the factory did not produce. I have always wanted a and 5 plates 7.5in. Ewbank Mid 19thC Masons Ironstone Send, Surrey. Oct 05. HP: miniature water can but these have always eluded me. Here at 22 these delightful china dinner service, printed £5,400. ABP: £6,372. examples fetched £700 in 2011. At 23, almost £700 seems almost too much for the and painted with Oriental soup tureen and stand. I have the stand in this pattern and value it at £180. The style decoration with exotic 3 largest early item is a magnificent vase in the Chinese style at 25. At 24 inches in birds amongst flowers, impressed marks. Wintertons height such a vase in good condition should fetch £2,000 at auction at the least. It’s Ltd, Lichfield. Nov 99. HP: conversion to a lamp is reprehensible and has cost the owner dearly. The bowl at 26 £1,750. ABP: £2,065. is early and the presence of impressed and printed marks have driven this sale, despite the Mason’s market being subdued. The fine 20 inch vase at 27 will date to 8 the 1830s. Jugs in their graduated sizes are ubiquitous and single examples, such as Impressive pair of early 19thC these at 28, 31 and 32 appear frequently. Expect to pay about £30 for a small Imari Ironstone vases/covers, poss. style jug with a serpent handle. At 33 the Victorian Mason meat dish is late and Masons, ball knops and wolf probably dates to the Morley/Ashworth period. £448 was excessive in 2002 and this masks, 22in. (some restor- Mason's ironstone part ation) Gorringes, Lewes. Dec dessert service: oval two example was never worth it. Today I would suggest it is worth less than a £100. 01. HP: £4,100. ABP: £4,838. handled dish, a comport with Mason produced high quality gilding as decoration, usually applied to a mazarine leaf moulded rim, a sauce blue ground. I have a large jug covered with flora and fauna. See examples at 35 and 4 tureen, cover/stand, two pairs 40. At 37 is a typical early pattern and form, and despite damages and restorations of shaped serving dishes, ten this soup tureen and stand made £389. At 43 is another early example. At 45 I have plates, 26cm & six plates included an unmarked tureen and cover in a hard-paste porcelain, correctly identified 23cm, each piece printed and by Halls as Miles Mason. At 46 is a 200 year anniversary reproduction, being one of painted in the famille verte Mid 19thC Masons Ironstone a limited edition of 100. For a rare and early object see the pot-pourri at 48. Mugs part dinner service, painted palette with central Chinese garden scene with exotic are uncommon. There are examples at 51, 54, 71 and 77. Collectors’ won’t mind the with chinoiserie landscapes rivets in the last example which fetched a poor £21. I would have paid £50. Finally I within a trailing floral border birds, printed crown and find the pair of custard cups of ‘comma’ form a curiosity. I have never seen this in the Imari palette. (104) ribbon marks, c1840, two Dee, Atkinson & Harrison, plates with some damage. shape before and I am also intrigued by the presence of ‘various printed marks’. If Driffield. Apr 07. HP: Bearne’s, Exeter. Jun 05. HP: any reader wishes to discuss this feature then they can contact me on 01843 862069 £3,600. ABP: £4,248. £1,650. ABP: £1,947. or email me at [email protected]

ANTIQUES INFO - September/October 13 Ceramics 9 13

Early 19thC Mason’s iron- stone part dessert service. 29 Mervyn Carey, Tenterden. Dec Early 19thC Masons Iron- 19 01. HP: £1,200. ABP: £1,416. stone comport, shaped Masons patent ironstone Pair of early 19thC Mason's oblong bowl, scrolled footbath, 19thC, large, oval Patent Ironstone water jugs handles, pierced support, form and decorated in imari with panels of Oriental vases 25 14 oval foot, all richly gilded, palette with scrolling flowers against gilded royal blue bowl painted in red, blue and and foliage within 2 lamprey grounds, 8in. (one spout gilt flora, 14.5in wide x 7in head handles, blue printed chipped) Gorringes, Lewes. deep x 6.75in high. Dee, Massive C.J. Mason iron- mark, a/f, 37.5cm wide. Halls Apr 00. HP: £700. ABP: £826. Atkinson & Harrison, stone octagonal baluster Fine Art, Shrewsbury. Dec 06. Driffield. Apr 07. HP: £420. Early 19thC Mason’s iron 20 vase, c1825 modelled with HP: £1,600. ABP: £1,888. ABP: £495. stone dessert set, the chicken dragon handles and transfer skin textured rims printed printed in black and over 30 and painted with Chinese enamelled with Chinese style export scrolls: twelve plates, Mason's Ironstone part river landscapes, on a green two dishes and a comport (15) dinner service, printed enamelled brocade pattern Cheffins, Cambridge. Feb 05. marks, mid 19thC. (3 pieces ground, gilt and cobalt blue HP: £1,200. ABP: £1,416. damaged) (18) Woolley & borders, 23.5in, now mounted 15 Wallis, Salisbury. Sep 00. as a lamp. Gorringes, Lewes. HP: £680. ABP: £802. Dec 11. HP: £500. ABP: £590. 10 26 Mason?s Ironstone china Masons Ironstone dinner footbath jug, an extra dragon service. (some damage). Louis 21 head moulded handle Taylor, Stoke on Trent. Dec 02. beneath the spout, decorated HP: £1,150. ABP: £1,357. 19thC Mason’s style octagonal baluster pot pourri with a typical Japan pattern, 16 30.6cm high, blue printed vase and cover, with dragon crown & drape mark, c1820- finial and pair of dragon 40. (minor faults) Dreweatt Masons type ironstone Imari handles, body with chinois- decorated vase, with twin Mason’s Ironstone large Neate, Newbury. Jun 02. HP: Mason’s Ironstone part circular bowl, decorated in serie style decoration, (a.f.), £1,300. ABP: £1,534. dinner service, some pieces pierced handles, with a 17cm high. Charterhouse Masons chinoiserie vase with colours with an Oriental with impressed marks, c1820. pattern, printed and Auctioneers, Sherborne. Sep 11 (23) Woolley & Wallis, black printed decoration, 11. HP: £420. ABP: £495. tallest 16in. Gorringes, impressed marks, 12in dia. Salisbury. Sep 00. HP: Arnolds Keys , Aylsham. Feb £1,050. ABP: £1,239. Lewes. Oct 10. HP: £650. 31 ABP: £767. 13. HP: £480. ABP: £566. 22 Masons Ironstone china part dinner service by Ashworth, an oblong soup tureen and cover, 13.75in wide, two 17 Masons ironstone jug, c1840, Three Mason’s ironstone small tureens and a meat Early 19thC Mason’s stone overpainted with chinoiserie miniature lavender water plate. (45) Andrew Hartley, china dessert service in Imari scenes, 21.5cm high with two cans, various decorations, Ilkley. Aug 00. HP: £1,250. colours: two small tureens on other graduated in size of a tallest 3.5in. Gorringes, ABP: £1,475. stands, 10 plated and five similar pattern and later Lewes. Dec 11. HP: £600. serving dishes/comports. date. Rosebery’s, London. Mar ABP: £708. 12 John Taylors, Louth. Mar 05. 02. HP: £380. ABP: £448. HP: £880. ABP: £1,038. 23 32 27 18

Early 19thC Mason’s ironstone octagonal shaped Matched set of Mason’s vase, 20in high. Clevedon ironstone octagonal jugs in Salerooms, Bristol. Jun 01. sizes, printed and painted Masons Ironstone soup HP: £420. ABP: £495. with Imari pattern, printed Pair of Mason's Ironstone tureen. Rosebery’s, London. marks in blue, smallest in large twin-handled vases/ 28 Nov 99. HP: £580. ABP: £684. black, 18cm to 9cm. Locke & covers in Chinese taste, c1840, England, Leamington Spa. handles in form of mythical Feb 03. HP: £380. ABP: £448. beasts, square section with Masons ironstone neopolitan canted corners, sides painted 33 ewer, foliate loop handle and in colours with panels of 24 applied putti, painted with flowers/foliage & landscape Early 19thC Masons peabirds and foliage on a scenes, deep blue ground Ironstone china teaware with Graduated ‘set’ of 5 Mason’s gilded blue ground with with gilt floral and foliate Chinese-style floral and fence Ironstone Hydra jugs with masks and foliage, unsigned, decoration, covers with decoration: teapot, lid and floral Imari decoration, later wood base, early 19thC, figural finials, brown printed stand, tall milk jug, slop largest 9.5in. Gorringes, 28in high. Andrew Hartley, mark to base. (2) (extensive bowl, sucrier and lid and five Lewes. Apr 02. HP: £420. Victorian Mason’s Ironstone Ilkley. Apr 05. HP: £1,250. restorations) Rosebery’s, cups. (12) Reeman Dansie, ABP: £495. polychrome floral meat dish, ABP: £1,475. London. Mar 08. HP: £800. Colchester. Apr 06. HP: 21in. Gorringes, Bexhill. Mar ABP: £944. £560. ABP: £660. 02. HP: £380. ABP: £448. ANTIQUES INFO - September/October 13 Ceramics 43 34 47 52

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Pair of Mason’s ironstone Mason’s Ironstone part Pair of Mason’s ironstone sauce tureens, each two- dinner service decorated in jars, octagonal baluster handled with cover, on stand, the Imari palette with panels shape printed and enamelled 19thC Mason’s ironstone printed and enamelled with a of flowers and foliage and with a Japan pattern, with tureen and cover, decorated Japan pattern, 5.5in dia. scrolling borders, retailed by domed covers, 12in, one vase with pheasants and flowers, Gorringes, Lewes. Sep 05. Thomas & Higginbotham 11 cracked. Gorringes, Lewes. 9in. Gorringes, Lewes. May HP: £380. ABP: £448. & 12 Wellington Quay Apr 07. HP: £220. ABP: £259. 10. HP: £190. ABP: £224. Dublin: 10 dinner plates, 9 A pair of Mason’s dishes. Kivell & Sons, Bude. Dec 02. 53 35 soup plates and a small oval 48 side dish, puce printed mark HP: £290. ABP: £342. to bases. (20) a/f. Rosebery’s, 44 London. Oct 06. HP: £300. ABP: £354.

40 Set of three masons ironstone china jugs c1825-1840, of typical octagonal hydra Early 19thC Mason’ iron- shape with snake handles, Mason’s Ironstone 5-piece stone jug and bowl gilt with painted in the imari palette bedroom set consisting of butterflies on a blue ground, Mason’s Ironstone pot pourri with peony, printed marks, toilet jug and basin, chamber impressed mark, jug 22cm vase and cover, impressed 11cm high, also another pot, soap dish and bowl with high. Cheffins, Cambridge. mark, 14cm high. Phillips, Mason’s ironstone jug of cover, printed and enamelled Feb 05. HP: £360. ABP: £424. Bath. May 00. HP: £210. similar form, decorated in with pheasants and foliage. 36 ABP: £247. the imari palette, 9cm high. (jug cracked) Gorringes, (4). Hampton & Littlewood, Lewes. Apr 02. HP: £260. 49 Exeter. Jul 04. HP: £185. ABP: £306. Mason’s type ironstone vase, ABP: £218. two handled, gilded with Two early 19thC Mason's flowers against a deep blue 45 Patent Ironstone dessert ground, domed cover with The prices quoted are actual Hammer Prices (HP) dishes of shell shape with kylin finial, 17.5in. followed by the Approximate moulded and gilt highlighted Gorringes, Lewes. Feb 07. Buyer’s Price (ABP) which HP: £300. ABP: £354. borders painted with an old 19thC Mason’s Ironstone includes an average buyer’s Japan pattern, 10.5in long. hydra jug, 6in and a similar premium of 15% + VAT. Tring Market Auctions, cream jug, 4in. Gorringes, Tring. May 04. HP: £340. Lewes. Feb 01. HP: £200. ABP: £401. Mason’s twin-handled oval ABP: £236. tureen and cover, c1810, 37 decorated in polychrome 50 41 with gilt embellishments, 54 with blue scrolling handles, base unmarked, 21cm diameter, 18cm high. Halls, Shrewsbury. May 13. HP: £260. ABP: £306. Extensive set of twenty-five Mason's ironstone jug, Unusual 19thC Masons Mason’s Patent ironstone mid/late 19thC, decorated Ironstone tankard, of squat 46 with Chinese dragons Masons patent ironstone soup plates, early 19thC, form with flared base, with against a two tone red and china soup tureen, cover and printed in underglaze blue hydra handle, printed and black ground and matching stand, c1815-1825, Japan with ‘Parrot in Branches’ painted with chinoiserie smaller jug. (largest 21.3) pattern, 33cm high, damages, pattern, various marks in flowers in Imari palette, Bellmans, Billingshurst. Apr restorations, recent rim chip. underglaze blue, impressed printed marks, 4.5in. 09. HP: £200. ABP: £236. Richard Winterton marks, 9.5in dia, with a Gorringes, Lewes. Oct 08. matching soup tureen and Auctioneers, Burton on Trent, 51 HP: £170. ABP: £200. cover of canted rectangular Staffs. Apr 04. HP: £330. 55 ABP: £389. form, printed mark, 12in wide. (26) Hartleys, Ilkley. Mar 11. 38 HP: £300. ABP: £354.

42 Mason’s ironstone china mug, 19thC, faceted swept Large Mason’s ironstone circular form with snake double handled dragon vase, handle, printed and over Six Masons ironstone hydra in celebration of 200 years, Victorian Masons Ironstone painted in typical colours jugs, painted in Imari limited edition 35/100, 65cm Set of fourteen Masons soup tureen, with polychrome with chinoiserie figures on a colours (tallest 6in.) and a high. Charterhouse Patent ironstone plates, decoration with Chinese and verandah, printed mark, 5in similar, unmarked hydra jug Auctioneers, Sherborne. Nov various marks, 9.75in dia. flowers, 13.5in. Gorringes, high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Mar - 5.25in. Gorringes, Lewes. 08. HP: £220. ABP: £259. Hartleys, Ilkley. Mar 11. HP: Lewes. Mar 11. HP: £300. 11. HP: £200. ABP: £236. Oct 05. HP: £290. ABP: £342. £170. ABP: £200. ABP: £354. ANTIQUES INFO - September/October 13 Ceramics

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Mason’s Ironstone two handled pedestal bowl, lobed Mason’s ironstone octagonal baluster form, printed in Graduating set of three Victorian Mason’s ironstone jug with serpent handle, 4in underglaze blue and over- Mason’s ironstone jugs, mid water jug decorated with and a smaller ditto, 2.75in. painted in iron red and gilt 19thC, octagonal baluster Two Mason’s ironstone oriental figures, 7in. Gorringes, Lewes. Oct 00. with flower filled vases form, printed/overpainted in dessert dishes printed and Gorringes, Lewes. Oct 00. HP: £120. ABP: £141. within chinoiserie panels, colours with chinoiserie enamelled with matching HP: £55. ABP: £64. 62 printed mark, 7in high. figures in landscape panels oriental garden design, Hartleys, Ilkley. Mar 13. HP: on a scale ground, printed c1830, 10in and 11in. £110. ABP: £129. mark, 6.5in, 5in and 4.25in Gorringes, Lewes. Apr 02. high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Sep 11. HP: £150. ABP: £177. HP: £80. ABP: £94. 75

71 67 Set of four early 19thC Mason’s ironstone plates, two smaller plates, a bowl and 57 small dish, all decorated with Mason’s patent ironstone a floral pattern in underglaze china hydra jug, octagonal blue and rust, picked out baluster form, printed in Mason’s ironstone cylindrical with gilt highlights, 19thC Mason’s ironstone black and overpainted in mug, blue printed mark, impressed marks, 10in. snake handled mug with bright polychrome enamels 19thC, 10.5cm high. Woolley 19thC Mason’s Ironstone Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 04. flared foot, painted with with chinoiserie figures on a & Wallis, Salisbury. Sep 00. vase, wide everted neck and HP: £120. ABP: £141. flowers in the Imari palette, burnt orange scale ground, HP: £140. ABP: £165. wavy rim, printed and printed mark, 4.5in high. painted with chinoiserie 5in high. Dee, Atkinson & 58 Harrison, Driffield. Nov 04. Hartleys, Ilkley. Sep 11. HP: patterns and vignettes, £40. ABP: £47. printed marks, height 7.75in. HP: £70. ABP: £82. 63 Fellows & Sons, Hockley, Birmingham. Oct 03. HP: £100. ABP: £118. Mason’s Ironstone Jardiniere Pair of Mason’s jugs. John pattern part dinner service, Taylors, Louth. Oct 99. HP: 76 £110. ABP: £129. including a vegetable tureen Pair of Mason’s Ironstone and cover. Charterhouse 72 custard cups, ‘comma’ form, Auctioneers, Sherborne. Jul This section is only a sample Set of three Mason’s Iron- printed in underglaze blue 10. HP: £140. ABP: £165. 68 from 1000s of results from stone ‘Imari’ graduated jugs and overpainted in iron red recent sales. See our website and burnt orange with flower 59 for an extensive selection. and another similar Iron- stone jug, 22cm high. (the filled jardinieres, various largest) Gorringes, Bexhill. printed marks, 2.75in wide. Dec 05. HP: £70. ABP: £82. Hartleys, Ilkley. Dec 09. HP: 64 £30. ABP: £35. 73 Pair of ironstone dessert dishes, possibly Mason’s, of fan shape, painted in under- glaze blue and overpainted Mason’s Ironstone hydra jug Mason’s ironstone oval meat in burnt orange and gilt with of typical form, 5in, and 2 plate, a matching square dish a flower filled urn, similar jugs. Gorringes, East Pair of Masons patent 77 and 4 plates en suite, printed unmarked, 8.25in wide. Sussex. Mar 02. HP: £110. ironstone jugs, of octagonal & enamelled with a chrysan- Hartleys, Ilkley. Mar 10. HP: Early 19thC ironstone large ABP: £129. baluster form painted with themum design, impressed £100. ABP: £118. mug, Masons style, with a marks, damage throughout. cartouches of Oriental serpent handle, the moulded figures beneath a floral rim Gorringes, Lewes. Apr 02. 65 circular body painted and HP: £130. ABP: £153. with green and brown rustic gilt in the Japan palette with handle, 6.5in high. chinoiserie panels and 60 Dee, Atkinson & Harrison, 69 foliage, 5in high, (repaired Driffield. Apr 09. HP: £70. with rivets) Golding Young & ABP: £82. Co, Grantham. Feb 06. HP: £18. ABP: £21.

Pair of 19thC Mason’s Graduated pair of 19thC The acknowledged bible on the subject of Mason’s is Patented Ironstone china Mason’s Ironstone octagonal Godden’s Guide to Mason’s China and the Ironstone ‘Maple Leaf’ shaped hors hydra jugs, decorated with Wares by Geoffrey A Godden FRSA, 1980. This covers d’eouvres dishes, decorated flowers in a vase, in Imari Victorian Mason’s Ironstone all of the various Mason outputs and partnerships, pagodas, reverse with purple palette, typical serpent vase printed and enamelled marks etc as well as covering Mason-type wares and the Masons Ironstone mark, handle, largest 8.5in. with Oriental views against other manufacturers. This is published by The Antique 10in. Denhams, Warnham, Gorringes, Lewes. Oct 08. blue and orange ground, Collectors’ Club, Church Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk. West Sussex. Jan 05. HP: HP: £110. ABP: £129. 5.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Oct Tel. 01394 385501. £130. ABP: £153. 02. HP: £85. ABP: £100. ANTIQUES INFO - September/October 13