Sometimes we don't get any marks, and other times, it seems like there are too many! Actually it is not as confusing as it may seem. If you look at p. 440 in Godden, he shows the chart for year cyphers. Your cloverleaf is definitely for the year 1850. However, he also shows the Key to Month Letters. Your letter S stands for the month of September. Your plate was made in Sept. 1850. The pattern may have been put on later, but not necessarily. Your mark includes M & Co. (Minton & Co.). Those marks were used from c. 1841-73 according to Godden at the bottom of page 439. Some of the patterns using the printed marks on p. 439 also had a pattern No. I don't see a number after "No." at the base of your mark. It may or may not be there. Hope this helps! By the way, BB Best Body refers to the quality of the earthenware Minton used.
Responses