Ironstone china

A Mason's ironstone plate, 1840 - 1860
Maker's mark from the base of a 1920s Mason's 'Watteau' ironstone bowl (full piece pictured below). Note the "orange peel" texture, a defect, in the surface.

Ironstone china, ironstone ware or most commonly just ironstone, is a type of vitreous pottery first made in the United Kingdom in the early 19th century. It is often classed as earthenware[1][2] although in appearance and properties it is similar to fine stoneware.[3] It was developed in the 19th century by potters in Staffordshire, England, as a cheaper, mass-produced alternative for porcelain.[4]

The formulation quoted in the original patent (Brit. Pat. 3724, 1813) by Charles James Mason, is four parts china clay, four parts china stone, four parts calcined flint, three parts prepared ironstone and a trace of cobalt oxide. However, it has long been known that no ironstone was used; its mention, and the name of the product, was used to suggest high strength.[5]

Ironstone in Britain's Staffordshire potteries was closely associated with the company founded by Mason following his patent of 1813,[1][6] with the name subsequently becoming generic.[7] The strength of Mason's ironstone body enabled the company to produce ornamental objects of considerable size[8][9] including vestibule vases 1.5 metres high[10] and mantelpieces assembled from several large sections.[11]

Antique ironstone wares are collectable, and in particular items made by Mason's.[12]

  1. ^ a b Daniels, E. (1989). "Product Control of Earthenware Manufacture". Transactions and Journal of the British Ceramic Society. 88 (5): 196–199.
  2. ^ Kurita, T.; M. Fujiwara; N. Otsuka; K. Asaga; H. Fujimoto (1998). "Changes in the Pore Structure of Ironstone China Body with Heating". Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan. 106 (12).
  3. ^ Rado, Paul (1988). An Introduction To The Technology Of Pottery (2nd ed.). Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Published on behalf of the Institute of Ceramics by Pergamon Press. ISBN 978-0080349329.
  4. ^ Birks, Steve. "Ironstone". Steve Birks. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  5. ^ 'Dictionary of Ceramics. 3rd edition. Dodd A., Murfin D., The Institute of Materials/Pergamon Press, 1994
  6. ^ "Mason's Ironstone Retains Its Decorative Tradition". International Tableware. 21 (3). 1991.
  7. ^ Miller, George (April 1991). "Thoughts Towards A User's Guide to Ceramic Assemblages" (PDF). Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology Newsletter (18): 2–5. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  8. ^ Keele University, Raven Mason Collection. "Ornamental Ironstone". Keele University. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  9. ^ "Mason ware". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012 [1].
  10. ^ Fleming, John & Hugh Honour. (1977) The Penguin Dictionary of Decorative Arts. London: Allen Lane, p. 399. ISBN 0713909412
  11. ^ Such a mantelpiece may be seen at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, near Katonah, New York.
  12. ^ Tharp, Lars. "The Origin of Ironstone". Steve Birks. Retrieved 5 November 2012.