Shagreen Mudlarked Sherd Pendant

Historical Information
Object: Shagreen/Pebble/Granite pattern
Fabric / Body: White earthenware with clear glaze
Technique: Under-glaze transfer print in cobalt blue, forming
a dense pebble-like or "shagreen" texture
Date: c. 1835-1870
Likely Origin: Staffordshire, England
Find Location: Colchester, Essex

Extra Information:
This distinctive speckled design is known in ceramic history
as shagreen, named after the textured skin of stingray or
shark historically used for luxury leatherwork. In the early
Victorian period, Staffordshire potters began imitating
shagreen texture through clever dot-cluster transfer patterns.
These were printed in cobalt blue, black, brown, or green, and
used as either full-surface patterns or borders.
These wares became extremely fashionable between 1835 and
1860, often paired with chinoiserie or geometric borders. The
effect was bold, modern for its time, and surprisingly durable.
This piece would originally have been part of a robust
household service used daily by working- or middle-class
Victorian families. The pattern's durability made it especially
popular for kitchenware, utilitarian bowls, and table plates.