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Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware

Posted by Marco on August 26, 2026, 6:24 am

Hello,
I am hoping someone might be able to help me identify and date this “INDIANA” pattern.

I have a group consisting of 8 plates (22 cm / 8.7 in.) and 3 handled serving dishes (29 × 23.5 cm / 11.4 × 9.25 in.), apparently made of relatively thin refined earthenware.

The dark brown design is transfer-printed, while the blue, pink, yellow and green colours appear to be hand-applied overglaze enamels. The colouring varies between pieces: the same transfer-printed flower can be blue on one plate and yellow or pink on another.

Several pieces also have small hand-painted coloured strokes on the reverse (one green stroke or two orange strokes), possibly workmen’s/decorators’ marks.

The only printed backstamp is “INDIANA” within a distinctive leafy wreath, with no maker’s name and no “England” mark.

During my research I found an Indiana pattern attributed to J. & W. Pratt of Lane Delph, Fenton (1836–1859) with what appears to be a very similar, possibly identical, INDIANA wreath mark, but with “J & W PRATT” printed beneath it.

I realise that Indiana was used as a pattern name by several Staffordshire manufacturers, so I do not want to assume that these pieces are by J. & W. Pratt.

Does anyone recognise this specific INDIANA backstamp or pattern, or know whether it is recorded in the TCC Pattern and Source Print Database?

I would particularly appreciate any information concerning the manufacturer, approximate date and original function of the service. I wonder whether the 22 cm plates together with the elaborate handled serving dishes may have formed part of a dessert service.

Thank you very much for any help.

Marco
Italy

Re: Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware

Posted by Marco on August 26, 2026, 6:58 am, in reply to "Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware"

Re: Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware

Posted by Len on August 26, 2026, 8:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware"

Hi Marco. We have three "Indiana" patterns in the database, by Allerton, Wedgwood (not THE Wedgwood but a lesser known potter), and an unknown maker. All of them different from your pattern. If you have been able to find an attribution to Pratt you're doing better than I have, I've looked in several books and online and not found anything. Yes, this does appear to be a dessert service. Wish I could tell you more; if more information does come up will let you know.

Re: Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware

Posted by Marco on August 27, 2026, 4:44 am, in reply to "Re: Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware"

Thank you very much for taking the time to look into this. Your confirmation that it appears to be a dessert service is already very helpful.

I am attaching the image that led me to consider J. & W. Pratt: it shows an “INDIANA” backstamp with what appears to be a remarkably similar wreath and lettering to mine, but with “J & W PRATT” printed beneath it. I thought you might find it interesting for comparison.

May I ask just one more question: based on the decoration, earthenware body, transfer printing, hand-applied overglaze colours and the forms of the pieces, do you have even a rough idea of the period in which my dessert service might have been made?

Thank you again for your kind help.

Marco

Re: Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware

Posted by Len on August 27, 2026, 6:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware"

Hi again Marco. Thanks for the picture of the mark - I would say that not only is it similar, it's the same mark, except for the addition of the makers' names. Is the pattern itself identical to the pattern you have? A person can't be 100% sure because potters did copy both patterns and marks, but if the pattern is the same I would attribute your set to Pratt as well, pending any further enlightenment. The time period they were active is about right too, from the 1830s on.

Re: Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware

Posted by Marco on August 27, 2026, 11:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Help identifying INDIANA pattern – Staffordshire earthenware"

Thank you very much for your reply and, above all, for the time you have taken to look into this for me. I really appreciate your help.

I am attaching the photograph of the J. & W. Pratt plate from which I originally found the complete “INDIANA / J & W PRATT” mark. As you can see, the pattern itself is very similar to mine, almost identical in its general design and decorative vocabulary, but not exactly the same.

I think I can therefore consider my research more or less concluded for the moment. Although I cannot make a firm attribution to a particular manufacturer, all the evidence I have gathered leaves me quite convinced that the pieces are mid-19th-century English refined earthenware, most likely Staffordshire.

The Pratt connection remains a very interesting possibility, particularly given your opinion that the backstamp itself is the same, but I agree that without an identical pattern or further documentary evidence it would be safer not to regard the attribution as definitive.

Thank you again for your kindness and expertise. Your comments have been extremely helpful in allowing me to understand these pieces much better.

Best wishes from Italy,

Marco

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