Tulip Pattern Spongeware Mudlarked Sherd Pendant

Historical Information

Type: Tulip Spongeware Pattern

Fabric: Earthenware

Date: 1800's

Find Location: Thames Estuary, Essex, UK

Extra information:

This pendant is crafted from a fragment of a 19th-century British spongeware plate, originally hand-painted with a vivid tulip motif in burnt orange, mulberry, black, and green. The decoration was applied using a sponge and brush, creating a bold, expressive floral design that reflects the folk-art traditions of Staffordshire, Scotland, or Ireland during the Victorian era.

Spongeware was widely produced for everyday use, offering colour and charm to working-class homes. Each piece was individually decorated, making every plate subtly unique. The white earthenware body and aged glaze with fine crazings speak to the age and authenticity of the fragment.

Now repurposed as a pendant, this piece offers a wearable connection to the domestic history and quiet artistry of the 19th century.