BY THE WAY

Southland Times, Issue 20633, 3 November 1928, Page 13 (Supplement)

BY THE WAY

REAL LOWESTOFT

(By

Rowan.)

In these days of manufacturers’, rather than traditional art, the value of china has suffered by comparison with the many excellent imitations being produced. But those fortunate possessors of “real” china will find that their possessions, although the stronghold of their exclusiveness is often invaded, never lose their value. People owning the so-oalled “Lowestoft China” ask many questions nowadays as to whether there is such a thing as “real” Lowestoft, and whether it was made in the little town of that name.

Undoubtedly there was, made in the English town of Lowestoft. There is a record of the discovery, by a Mr Luson, in 1756, near Lowestoft, of some white earth on his estate. This was analysed and found suitable for the production of porcelain, He sent to London for workmen, but when this became known means were taken to spoil his plans and end the scheme.

Another account states that a Dutch sailer wrecked on the East Coast of England near the little town of Lowestoft, pointed out the value of the white clay on the shore. Consequently a temporary kiln was erected on the dunes, and after a year’s struggle, a company was formed and a factory established. The business was founded in 1752, and in 1770 it had attained sufficient importance to have a London warehouse. The earliest date found upon a piece of Lowestoft is 1761, and many pieces are marked 1762. The factory was situated on the site which is now occupied by a Crown brewery, excavations for which uncovered, in 1902, the site of the pottery. Many pieces of china, a large number of molds, a round potter’s stone and a piece of clay mixed for use, were found. There were 500 pieces decorated in blue, and 76 fragments decorated in colours. Painted pieces were found ready for glazing which proved the decorating of china at Lowestoft. All the pieces showed that soft paste was used, although about twenty were of Oriental china of hard paste, with decorations in blue and white which were probably used as patterns, as Oriental china has always been recognized as the model used by European manufacturers. The molds found in this excavation cover a period of more than forty years previous to closing the factory, and from none of them could have come any of the forms so widely known as Lowestoft, and actually of Chinese make. Such articles as would have come from these molds may, of course, exist; but they are not such as are offered to-day as Lowestoft china.

Just fifty years saw the rise and fall of the real Lowestoft. In 1802 the factory was closed on account of a complication of business troubles. At the end of the eighteenth century a great deal of Oriental china was made, bearing the coats of arms of English families, and people came to suppose it was brought from the East to Lowestoft in its unfinished state, there to be decorated and re-fired. On the signed testimony of one of the workmen, it is positively stated that Oriental porcelain was never brought to Lowestoft to be decorated. It is now believed that every article painted at Lowestoft was also made there. There is little originality in the product of this plant, English potters having always been imitators. Wedgewood copied the cameo work of the classic world ; Bow copied Canton ware; Worcester copied Chinese mandarins, birds and impossible animals devised by some Eastern potter; Chelsea copied Dresden; Lowestoft copied the Bow and Worcester copies of Chinese originals. At the last-named factory a common blue and white ware was made, as well as a class of goods on which heraldic designs and floral intricacies were introduced.

Both men and women were employed as decorators. A peculiarity of the blue and white pattern is that lines are often painted on each side of the handle where it joins the piece. Gold was often used with blue.

With the coming of a French revolutionary refugee into Lowestoft there came a change in decoration. His name was Rose and he became the principal painter at the factory, introducing much of the delicacy and taste of the decoration. Underneath some of the handles will be found a small rose said to show that the work was done by him—a graceful way of signing his name. The little rose so often found in decoration dates from this time. It is another evidence of English decoration, for the arms of the borough were the Tudor or full-blown rose.

Some of the characteristics of the real Lowestoft are little lumps found on the surface—a gritty appearance on the glaze in places. There is a greenish hue in the glaze settled under the rims of cups and saucers. The colour varies, but is often found in a pale pearly tint. The glaze runs over the whole and all lids of teapots and basins are glazed all over the flange or projecting rim. The shapes and handles are characteristic of Oriental china. Small cups without handles, and covers with knobs like tiny dogs, are decidedly Oriental in style. The scallop and scale patterns are typical Lowestoft productions. Mugs and sauce boats have flat bottoms; occasionally a rim is found. There are various styles of decoration—blue bands, dots, or other figures overlaid with gold; black penciling, coats-of-arms, landscapes, figures, flowers and sprigs with delicate borders to match. There is a red peculiar to Lowestoff, varying from a mauve pink to a carmine. The dainty design of bachelor’s buttons is called the Angouleme pattern. There is a question whether figurines were made at Lowestoft. It is thought they may have been, as portions of arms were found in the excavation. Birth tablets were a specialtv. a circular disc with a hole for a string, supposed to have been worn round the neck. Flat-shaped flasks, known as Pilgrim Bottles, bearing initials and dates, were also in favour. As to Lowestoft marks there are all sorts of theories. So high an authority as the British Museum catalogue states, “No regular factory mark seems to have been used, but there is strong evidence that the Worecester crescent was put on some of the wares decorated in Worcester style. Imitations of Chinese datemarks, numerals up to 25 and a fair number of workmen’s signs were also used, the smaller marks being generally placed on the inside of the foot rim of the piece.”

True Lowestoft, is rare, while the Chinese Lowestoft is common. The former is more often found in museums. One thing is certain —that there was real Lowestoft china, for just 100 years after the factory was closed the site excavated proved that soft paste was made and decorated at Lowestoft.