Commemorative plate, 1991 civic party visit of the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed
Maker
P + M Thomas Tower House Pottery
Production date
1991
See full details
Object Detail
Production date
1991
Description
Majolica style sgraffito earthenware plate, depicting Berwick-upon-Tweed old bridge, river, herald and floral motif border by Tower House Pottery, Berwick-upon-Tweed.
This plate is handcrafted by the Tower House Pottery company, now located on the banks of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It is made of earthenware highly decorated with drawings using the technique known as sgraffito. Tower House Pottery are known for mainly floral designs, or images reflecting their location, of which this plate shows both. After illustrating the raw clay, they are fired, coloured by painting with metal oxides, glazed, then fired again. Each process is done by hand to produce individual pieces.
The floral motif is applied to the lip of the plate and contains morning glories, bluebells and ivy. The city is shown on the river Tweed with the Old Bridge in the centre of the plate. The rim of the plate is blue striped. The centre of the top of the lip contains the bear and witch-elm heraldic symbol for the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Above the witch-elm tree is a banner of yellow "Berwick upon Tweed March 1991".
The base of the plate contains an unglazed banner of white sgraffitoed with "To mark the visit of the Civic Party from Berwick upon Tweed". The bottom base surrounded by inscribed makers mark, location and year.
This plate is handcrafted by the Tower House Pottery company, now located on the banks of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It is made of earthenware highly decorated with drawings using the technique known as sgraffito. Tower House Pottery are known for mainly floral designs, or images reflecting their location, of which this plate shows both. After illustrating the raw clay, they are fired, coloured by painting with metal oxides, glazed, then fired again. Each process is done by hand to produce individual pieces.
The floral motif is applied to the lip of the plate and contains morning glories, bluebells and ivy. The city is shown on the river Tweed with the Old Bridge in the centre of the plate. The rim of the plate is blue striped. The centre of the top of the lip contains the bear and witch-elm heraldic symbol for the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Above the witch-elm tree is a banner of yellow "Berwick upon Tweed March 1991".
The base of the plate contains an unglazed banner of white sgraffitoed with "To mark the visit of the Civic Party from Berwick upon Tweed". The bottom base surrounded by inscribed makers mark, location and year.
Artist/Maker and role
P + M Thomas Tower House Pottery: Manufacturer
Associated person
Media/Materials description
earthenware, tin glaze
Measurements
31.0 x 31.0 x 4.5 cm
Signature & date
Inscribed and dated by hand in paint in upper centre "Berwick upon Tweed/ March 1991"
Inscription on verso "To Mark the Visit of the Civic Party from Berwick-Upon-Tweed"
Makers mark on verso "P & H Thomas, Towerhouse Pottery Berwick-upon-Tweed 1991"
Inscription on verso "To Mark the Visit of the Civic Party from Berwick-Upon-Tweed"
Makers mark on verso "P & H Thomas, Towerhouse Pottery Berwick-upon-Tweed 1991"
Photography credit (first image)
Photograph: Viki Petherbridge
System ID
1226
