From: mouse@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: rec.antiques
Subject: Kid Stuff
Date: 30 Sep 92 08:25:17 CDT
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

Well, it's been so quiet lately that I thought I would post
something just to keep things moving.  Dug into the clipping
file and came up with the following topic.  Hope some of you
enjoy it.

[from _Country Living_, Nov. 1991, p. 19.]

"	It's said that virtue is its own reward, but in the
impressionable years of childhood, commendable behavior sometimes 
requires a tangible incentive.  And so it was that 19th-century
potters in Staffordshire, England, began turning out earthenware
made especially for good boys and girls.  Most frequently, pot-
tery designed for youngsters took the form of hand-painted or
transfer-printed plates or mugs embellished with the intended
owner's name, an instructional phrase ('Never speak to deceive
not listen to betray,' for example), or a note of praise or
endearment ('A present for being good in church' or simply 'For
my dear boy').  Today these Victorian-era keepsakes - generally
referred to as children's ware - are treasured by collectors as 
well as grandparents in search of a splendid gift for a lucky
child of the 20th century.  Search as they may, [however,]
collectors are not likely to track down a 19th-century mug or 
plate emblazoned with the name 'Tracy' or 'Keith,' notes Staff-
ordshire dealer Arlene Noble.  Most common: names of biblical
origin, such as Sarah, Elizabeth, or Thomas.  In the United
States, yellow-glazed wares are difficult to find and, thus,
valued highly by connoisseurs."

A special category of children's ware is ABC plates.  [next
from Warman's, 1991]  'The majority of early ABC plates were
manufactured in England, imported into the United States, and
achieved their greatest popularity from 1780 to 1860.  Since
a formal education was limited in the early 19th century, the
ABC plate was a method of educating the poor for a few pennies.
   ABC plates are found in glass, pewter, porcelain, pottery,
and tin.  Porcelain plates range in diameter from 4 3/8" to 
slightly over 9 1/2".  The rim usually contains the alphabet
and/or numbers; the center features animals, great men, maxims,
or nursery rhymes."

Other types of children's ware are highly collectible today.
Royal Doulton's "Bunnikins" sets, a pattern which is still 
popular today, but which actually dates from the Victorian
period.  Dedham Pottery produced a gray crackle glaze with
blue-band-border decoration (their rabbit pattern being the
most popular) with animals.  Roseville Pottery produced a
very successful juvenile pattern which incorporated a pastel
band (often pale green, but not always) with a figure: bunny,
baby chicks, Santa Claus, puppy, mouse, etc.  Hull Pottery
had the "Red Riding Hood" pattern on everything from plates
to cookie jars to lamps.

Well, that's about all I have time for today, friends.  Just
a taste of a fun area of collecting.

Bye for now.
Nancy

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|  N. L. Sliker, Director/Engineering Computing                             |
*  3043 Learned Hall                                                        *
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*  (913) 864-3692                                                           *
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Newsgroups: rec.antiques