Dear experts, recently I bought a meat drainer with accompanying platter (see attached pictures). Because of the Y&M on the mark (below the pattern name Snowdrop) I assume it is from the pottery Yates & May in Shelton (Stoke-on-Trent). But since I couldn't find any other examples of marks from this pottery I am not 100% sure. I contacted www.thepotteries.org and the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent and they advised me to contact you. So I hope you can either confirm or point me in the right direction. Anyhow, it is very hard to find more information about the Yates & May pottery. Who was the mystery mister "May"? Can you tell me more about this pottery or can you recommend a book or website where I can read more? Any help is very much appreciated. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50009598107_a5b014d8c8_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50009598092_7df88968e2_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50008808748_450247e00e_b.jpg
Thank you for your inquiry about this lovely pattern. I did some research and was able to find some information about the pattern and about the makers:
The “Y & M” printed mark for Yates & May is listed as Mark B2571 on p. 387 of The Encyclopedia of Marks on American, English, and European Earthenware, Ironstone and Stoneware 1780-1980 by Arnold A. Kowalsky and Dorothy E. Kowalsky. There it states that this mark was used by the firm which operated on Broad Street, (Shelton) Hanley, Staffordshire, c.1835-1843. Formerly, John Yates and John and William Yates (1770-1835). For further reading this reference recommends consulting: Staffordshire Blue, W. L. Little, p. 109 British Porcelain, An Illustrated Guide, Geoffrey A. Godden, p. 808-809 Staffordshire Porcelain, Geoffrey A. Godden (Editor and Contributor), Ch. 20, p. 198-305.
On p. 468 of the Kowalsky reference, included in a list of “Patterns by Potters” is the firm of “Yates and May” noting that it produced “Blue and White Transferware, Single Patterns” in the Floral Category, with a sole listing for the pattern “Snowdrop.”
On p. 47 of Petra Williams and Marguerite Weber’s Staffordshire II Romantic Transfer Patterns, the pattern is pictured on a footed, double-handled urn, with the same printed mark that you provided.
On p. 256 of Staffordshire Potters 1781-1900, by R. K. Henrywood, the firm of Yates and May is listed as appearing in the 1841 edition of "Pigot and Co.’s National and Commercial Directory and Topography". On p. 255 and 256, additional iterations of the Yates firm are listed as they appeared in various commercial directories.
I hope this information is helpful and will provide you with some avenues for further research. As the pattern is not yet included in the TCC Database of Patterns and Sources, I would like to add it to our records. May we have your permission to use the images you sent with this inquiry? If you are agreeable to this request, I would appreciate it if you could also provide the dimensions of the wares.
Many thanks for your kind and elaborate email with answers to my questions. I do not have any of the mentioned books but I will look for them on eBay, as e-book or in online libraries. Since the pattern is not included in your comprehensive database I assume that this pattern is rare and uncommon. Feel free to use my pictures in your database. If you send me your email I will send you high resolution pictures including the dimensions. Can I also ask you a favour in return? I would be interested to explore your database but don't know at this stage whether I need a full year membership. Would it be possible to grand me a 1 month free membership? Once again I would like to thank you for your help. Very much appreciated. Regards, Martijn
We don't offer free access to the DB but we do offer 24 hour access for $10.00, and you can subsequently apply the $10 to full TCC membership ($50 US and $60 International). Access the DB from our website, press the Search button, and when prompted to enter username and password, you will see a link for non-members to purchase the 24 hour membership.
Thank you for the image and dimensions offer. I am speaking for Leslie, and suggesting you send the images directly to the DB General Editor, and she can forward the information to Leslie: dbeditor@transcollectorsclub.org.
Hi, thanks for your message. Today I emailed you some high resolution pictures of my meat drainer with platter. Regards and many thanks again for your help. I have a collection of more than 250 meat drainers so maybe I will ask your help soon again if that is alright. Martijn