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Brown-Westhead, Moore, and Co

One of the gifts of the internet is that we come into contact with people and institutions that share valuable knowledge that we would otherwise find it hard to come by.  I have profited from three such contacts in learning about Brown, Westhead & Moore pottery.  The first is Cristel Aarts, a collector who offered helpful information about one of the items below and has offered encouragement in my further adventures with this company.  The second is “Lovers of Blue and White,” who both sell and archive high quality china (https://www.blueandwhite.com).  The third is “The Potteries,” who offer a wide range of helpful information on china, including the markings one finds on objects like those produced by BWM (http://www.thepotteries.org).

 

1880? A white-colored platter 10½" x almost 9½". Inside of a surrounding pattern of branches and grapes on the platter's ledge is an image featuring a fox and a stork. The back of the platter shows two simple registry marks and an indented name, apparently Brown-Westhead, Moore and Company (in existence from 1861 to 1904). The "Moore" portion is indistinct. $50 from Shirley Perry, May, '00.

This is a heavy platter. There is a shallow plate in front of the protagonists and narrow vases in the background. Shirley dates this and the larger platter below to 1858-82. There are chip repairs at the right-hand "carrying" end. The "Moore" portion of the indented name is indistinct.

 

1880? A white-colored platter 13" x almost 10½". Inside of a surrounding pattern of branches and grapes on the platter's ledge is an image featuring a fox and a stag, with other deer and trees in the background. The back of the platter shows a number of registry marks, the clearest an ink stamp working down from a crown through a circle surrounding a coat of arms with "BWM & Co" across it and "Fables" underneath it. Other marks include a diamond surrounding a large "R" with various letters and numbers, and an indented name, apparently Brown-Westhead, Moore to 1904). $65 from Shirley Perry, May, '00.

This is a large, heavy, and even formidable platter! I was baffled about which fable is presented here, but Cristel Aarts has made an excellent suggestion: this fable has the fox trying to talk the stag to come along to visit the lion. Shirley dates this and the smaller platter above to 1858-82. There are chip repairs at both "carrying" ends.

 

1890? A cream-colored cake serving plate 9¼" in diameter with a 6½" blue-and-white circular design at its center presenting "The Lobster and her Mother."  5½" high.  The bottom of the dish has the "Brown, Westhead, Moore and Company Fables" logo and two other marks: either "6" or "9" and a red and blue mark. 

A frog looks on as the mother supposedly shows her child how to walk straight.  I am not sure what this fable might have to do with the serving of cake!  Over half of the design on the top surface of this serving plate is open space, pond, and reeds.  Around the base are two designs, apparently independent of each other:  two birds on a branch and a rabbit.

1890? A cream-colored plate over 9" in diameter with a 6" black-and-white circular design at its center presenting "The Mouse, the Rooster, and the Cat." The back of the plate shows a number of registry marks, the clearest an ink stamp working down from a crown through a circle surrounding a coat of arms with "BWM & Co" across it and "Fables" underneath it. Other marks include an indented sign surrounding a large "R" and an indented name, apparently Brown-Westhead. Well repaired edge from about 2:00 to 4:00. Hanley, Staffordshire: Brown-Westhead, Moore and Company (in existence from 1861 to 1904). $35 from Mary Ellen Kennedy, Larchmont, NY through Ebay, Dec., '99.

Perhaps the loveliest plate I have. High quality artistry throughout. Especially attractive is the attentive pose of the mouse in the foreground. The two characters he looks at present just what the fable wants from them: aggressive crowing from the rooster and welcoming, quiet fuzziness from the cat. Watch out, young mouse!

 

1890? A cream-colored plate 9¾" in diameter with a 6½" blue-and-white circular design at its center presenting TT. The back of the plate shows two registry marks and a crown through a circle surrounding a coat of arms with "BWM & Co" across it and "Fables" underneath it. Other marks include a complex sign headed by a "Faience Anglaise" banner and giving addresses in Paris and Marseille. Hanley, Staffordshire: Brown-Westhead, Moore and Company. £10.51 from Chris Hill, UK, through eBay, Oct., '02.

There is a chip at about 9 o'clock along the scalloped edge of this lovely plate. The design, showing the moment just before lift-off, is repeated elsewhere in Brown-Westhead, Moore and Company productions. The design spills over nicely into the ridge connecting the center of this plate with its rim.

 

1890? A cream-colored plate 9¾" in diameter with a 6½" blue-and-white circular design at its center presenting "The Oyster and the Rat." The back of the plate shows several registry marks and a crown through a circle surrounding a coat of arms with "BWM & Co" across it and "Fables" underneath it. Other marks include a complex sign headed by a "Faience Anglaise" banner and giving addresses in Paris and Marseille. Hanley, Staffordshire: Brown-Westhead, Moore and Company. $65 from Debra Johnson, Rock Hill, SC, through eBay, May, '06.

This plate seems to be in a set with the similar presentation of TT which I acquired at the same time. There is a chip at about 12 o'clock along the scalloped edge of this lovely plate. The design shows the moment just before the rat will find the oyster clamping down around his head. The design spills over nicely into the ridge connecting the center of this plate with its rim.

 

1890? An octagonal plate almost 10" in diameter with a 7¼" gray-and-white circular design at its center presenting TT. The back of the plate shows two registry marks and a crown through a circle surrounding a coat of arms with "BWM & Co" across it and "Fables" underneath it. Above it is "Cauldon, England." Hanley, Staffordshire: Brown-Westhead, Moore and Company. $65 from Debra Johnson, Rock Hill, SC, through eBay, May, '06.

There are no chips in this substantial plate. The design, showing the moment just before lift-off, is repeated elsewhere in Brown-Westhead, Moore and Company productions. The design spills over nicely into the ridge connecting the center of this plate with its rim. The specific color here seems to me to be a combination of gray, brown, and black.