Coloured Floral Brooch

Historical Information
Type: Plate rim sherd transferware.
Fabric: Earthenware
Date: Mid-19th Century (c. 1840-1875)
Find Location: Unknown
Extra information
This fragment derives from a mass-produced tableware plate typical of the Victorian period, when the English ceramics industry, particularly in Staffordshire, expanded rapidly to meet growing domestic and export demand. The sherd displays a polychrome transfer-printed floral border, with black-
printed outlines and hand-applied enamel colours in red, yellow, and green. This decorative technique allowed for consistent yet visually appealing designs at relatively low
cost, making such wares widely accessible across social classes. The moulded rim profile suggests a functional dinner plate with a broad decorative border and plain central well. Refined earthenware, often termed ironstone, was valued for its strength and resistance to chipping,
making it suitable for everyday use. Surviving fragments such as this illustrate the intersection of industrial
production and domestic life, preserving evidence of dining practices, aesthetic preferences, and global trade networks in the 19th century.