Transferware Collectors Club Message Board: Davenport and New Orleans Importers

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Davenport and New Orleans Importers

Posted by Thurston Hahn III on May 15, 2009, 10:02 am
70.169.80.17

Yet another wayward archaeologist looking for help! I am currently analyzing artifacts recovered from several archaeological sites in Natchitoches, Louisiana. For reasons not yet fully understood, most of the material dates circa 1800 to 1840. Included in the collection are a number of transferware sherds. Not surprisingly, many are from vessels manufactured by Davenport. As many of you know, the firm of Henderson and Gaines (and their predecessors) was a major New Orleans importer of Davenport products. We have recovered a number of sherds marked with the importers and/or the Davenport mark. I have been able to identify a number of the patterns, but not as many as I would like. In an effort to identify more of the patterns I am trying to put together a list of known patterns imported by Henderson and Gaines (et al.). So far, I have found references to “Davenport III,” “Sea Leaf,” Chinese Birds, Chinese Pastime, Cities Series, Don Quixote, Franklins Morals, French Groups, Fruit and Flowers, Indian Flowers, Millenium, Muleteer, Rose, Ruins, Scotts Illustrations, and Tyrol Hunters. With the probable exception of Millenium, all were manufactured by Davenport. Did Henderson and Gaines import any other patterns?

“Davenport III,” “Sea Leaf,” Chinese Birds, Chinese Pastime, Scotts Illustrations, and Tyrol Hunters seem to have been very popular in Natchitoches. Outside of Williams and Weber’s Staffordshire II, I have not been able to locate any images of Chinese Birds for comparative use. Does someone have an image of Chinese Birds that they would be willing to share? Is there more than one view, as I suspect?

Also, does anyone know how many different views comprise Chinese Pastime? I have come across eight so far—“Boys Spinning Top,” “Children Fishing,” “Children Swinging,” “Gardner Tending Potted Plant,” “Hoop and Pinwheel,” “Peacock,” “Sedan” and “Woman in Carriage.” Admittedly, some of these are my terms, but I haven’t been able to locate an authoritative source on the subject.

Thanks for any and all help in advance. I would also be most interested in sharing information about Henderson and Gaines (et al.) and other New Orleans importers (particularly B. Brower and Company).