2 Japanese Inspired 1884 Ridgway Devonshire Cups Aesthetic Pattern Stokeon TRENT

Description: These two c. 1885 Brown-colored cups, made by Ridgway, are doubly RARE: my internet search showed NO cups at all in this "Devonshire" pattern and certainly NONE in this very rare, unusual ring-handled cup shape (3' tall and 3 1/4" wide) - almost more of a mug than a nineteenth century tea cup. The Ridgway family was one of the important dynasties manufacturing Staffordshire pottery, with a large number of family members and business names, over a period from the 1790s to the late 20th century. In 1866 Edward John Ridgway built his massive Bedford Works in Sheldon, with its eight enormous bottle kilns, for the manufacture of earthenware. In 1870, he brought his two sons, John and Edward Ackroyd, into the business while he retired in 1872. The period in which the sons took control coincided with the rise of a new artistic style in England named “Aestheticism” which emphasized the ideal of beauty in art and society as an end in itself. The Aesthetes dismissed the idea that art should have a moral or teaching purpose. In ceramic design the emphasis was on nature, both flora and fauna, depicting flowers, water fowl, birds and Asian influenced floral designs with geometric borders. Japanese art had a great influence on Aestheticism. The movement influenced the Ridgway brothers to create ceramic transferware designs of Asian-styled scenes with asymmetric, bold and geometric patterns. Oftentimes these pieces would have a scene inset on the piece. Brown was the most common color found in Aesthetic pieces. Ridgway registered one of its first Aesthetic patterns, “Devonshire,” in 1884, and production started the following year. The pattern decorated with a background of tiny flowers, overlaid with larger chrysanthemums and cartouches showing waterside scenes with birds and reeds. Each cup has an inner ring of flower blossoms and leaves. (See photos which are part of the description). The cups are marked with a bow and arrow; the arrow contains the word “Ridgways” (note that the Brothers have now added an “s” to the mark) while the words “Stoke on Trent” are printed below. This mark was only used from 1885-1890. (See photo). The Devonshire Pattern was a trailblazing one for Ridgways, an outstanding example of Aestheticism and a must for the collector of 19th century British transferware.

Price: 100 USD

Location: Weston, Massachusetts

End Time: 2023-12-30T16:49:39.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD