A rare and documentary Rockingham pattern book circa 1826-early 1830s

Porcelain had been produced at the Rockingham Works near Swinton, Yorkshire, on a commercial scale since 1826. On the closure of the Works in 1842 three pattern books showing designs and shapes for tea and dessert wares were aquired by Isaac Baguley, a former artist there, who set up as a decorator on the factory site painting porcelain bought in from elsewhere. The paper is watermarked 1824 and this book is chronologically the middle one of the three. Teaware patterns 593-995 are shown at one end of the book and dessert ware patterns 450-696 are illustrated at the other. In each case the design for teawares is for cups and saucers, including instructions for the artist and details of gilding on handles and the outside of cups. For dessert wares the designs are shown on plates.

The first patterns in the book were probably entered in late 1825, with further additions being made up to the 1830s. Occasionally the artist's name accompanies a given design, the most frequently mentioned being William Landeg. Notable artists include Thomas Steel and his son, Edwin. Also of note is the frequent insruction, Flowers by girls, the anonymous factory paintresses.

We are very grateful to Dr.Alwyn and Mrs Angela Cox for their assistance in the cataloguing of this lot