FBICC Message Board

FBICC Message Board
[ FBICC Message Board ]

Derby

Posted by Lisa on October 4, 2020, 10:26 am

I am trying to determine if this piece from Derby is Flow Blue. The mark dates this piece late 1700’s but that is all I can find.

Re: Derby

Posted by Cindy on October 5, 2020, 10:09 am, in reply to "Derby"

Hi Lisa,
Flow Blue is generally accepted as starting in the mid 1840s. If your mark is truly from the 1700s, then it’s not flow blue. There was no photo attached that I saw, so try uploading one and maybe we can tell more about the piece.
Cindy

Re: Derby

Posted by Lisa on October 5, 2020, 8:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Derby"

Well, I tried to attach photo. Let's try it again.

photo upload website

Re: Derby

Posted by Jackie Casey on October 7, 2020, 3:53 am, in reply to "Re: Derby"

Have you a photo of the mark? Doesn't look to be flow blue

Re: Derby

Posted by George Wells on October 9, 2020, 6:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Derby"

Yes, a photo of the mark would be most helpful. There are several "D" marks on flow blue that are sometimes misattributed to Derby. Also, the Derby Porcelain Works DID make some products that are accepted as flow blue in the Club's PID.

That said, the example photographed is transfer-printed (as opposed to hand-painted), and transferware first appeared (experimentally) around 1765, so that's not much help. Also, the flowing technique was successfully used off and on prior to 1800, but by agreement - not "definition" - the products so made are not considered "flow blue."

This is where the "mid 1840's" comment above comes from. Some experts stretch the opening date of flow blue to the 1830's, but the agreement on items that date before then is pretty much 100%.

Re: Derby

Posted by George Wells on October 9, 2020, 6:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Derby"

And this is in answer to the question of whether the appearance of this cup qualifies it to be called flow blue, and that's hard to say. The color isn't spot on for flow blue, but that might be caused by the photo's lighting. Then again, the amount of visible flowing is subjective - the transfer doesn't appear crisp, but that does not in itself make it flowing, regardless of color. Sometimes items must be examined in person before an answer can be given with confidence, and even then, there can be differences of opinion.

« Back to index

[ FBICC Message Board ]