I have let the blog lapse somewhat over the last few months. The reason for this is simple – too many spam postings! I have therefore (I hope!) disabled the ability to reply to posts on this blog (although am more than happy to hear from people using the contact details on the main website).
I have added a few more pieces this month, in particular two signed, dated and numbered pieces from 1890. The first is a tree of life design provided anonymously with pattern number 405.
The second example is a charger with a ship and school of fish swimming around the edges which was sold at Toovey’s auctioneers (to whom I am grateful for permission to use the images).
Both of these chargers show Pearson’s tendency to reuse motifs in his work, albeit with subtle (and not so subtle) differences. I have seen the ‘urn’ motif is some of Pearson’s metalwork in differing guises (there is another example on the site). The ship charger (which has pattern number 402) is also interesting in that, on first appearance, it is similar to the ship charger with pattern number 403 on the site which he no doubt made at the same time (Images of both are below):
Pattern 402:
Pattern number 403 (also dated 1890):
John Pearson 1890 charger
However, on close inspection, the pieces have different detailing and, what is noticeable ‘in the flesh’ as it were, but not on the internet is the different scale. The charger below is actually four times the size of the one above (being exactly twice the size in diameter).
