Photo from News-Antiques.comI have had some readers asking about Ironstone China. Although I don't pretend to be an expert on Ironstone, I do love it. Especially White Ironstone.
Last year, I found this lovely White Ironstone soup tureen at my town tag sale for a steal at only $5. But did you know that White Ironstone is only one type of Ironstone?
A LITTLE HISTORY
Ironstone was first developed as a less expensive alternative to costly bone china and fine porcelain. The Ironstone that we are familiar with today was first patented by Charles James Mason in1813 in Staffordshire, England.
Photo from One of a Kind AntiquesIronstone is made of white clay with pulverized flint or feldspar and slag left over from iron-smelting. These additives resulted in a strong and durable product that was difficult to chip. After 1827 when Mason's patent ended, many other potters began making Ironstone. The Ironstone was decorating with transfer patterns (especially the popular blue willow) or painted designs. The plain white pieces that we love so much were not common in England, as they were mostly produced for export. In the 1840's these plain pieces were exported to the US and Canada where they were valued for the fact that they were plain, unfussy, and durable.
Photo from Ruby Lane
Backstamps can help to identify the age and manufacturer of a given piece of Ironstone, which in turn help to attach a value. Value is also based on rarity and condition of a particular piece. A quick search of the internet yields many sources for collectors to help them identify the approximate age, manufacturers and value of various pieces.
Here are some links to interesting Ironstone information (try saying that three times fast.)
Have a great Tuesday~
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