Transferware

Learn the history behind transferware to make the

hunt even more fun.

the hunt is half the fun, but knowing the history behind your collections can be just as satisfying.

Transferware is available in a wide variety of dishes, from affordable travel souvenir plates and turkey platters to exquisite and difficult-to-find English-made pieces from the 1700s.

Transferware is an art form in which a design or pattern is transferred from an inked, hand-engraved copper plate to wet tissue paper and then placed on a piece of pottery, usually china or porcelain. After several additional steps and firing in a kiln, the piece is complete.

Beginning in 1760 in the Staffordshire region of England, the transferware process, versus hand painting each piece, made beautiful dishware affordable. The classic two-tone blue and white coloring was the original combination, but later the colors expanded to red, green, mulberry, pink and yellow.

The designs on transferware developed into a variety of themes as its popularity grew around the world, including romantic, American, chinoiserie, floral and botanical themes, to name a few. Some of the notable collections include Blue Fluted by Royal Copenhagen, Blue Italian by Spode and Blue Willow by Royal Stafford.

You can find vintage transferware at flea markets, thrift shops, garage sales and estate sales as well as online. Choose a pattern, a two-tone combo or a maker that tugs at your heart strings, and let the collecting begin.