Antique Brown-Westhead Moore Canova Transferware Bird Plate
An antique Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co. transferware plate in the Canova pattern, made at Cauldon, England and retailed through Le Grand Dépôt, E. Bourgeois, 21 Rue Drouot, Paris. This is a particularly striking example, with an Aesthetic Movement bird study surrounded by insects, botanicals, and mushrooms, all rendered in deep blue transfer on a warm ivory ground.
Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co. was one of the respected Staffordshire makers of the 19th century, producing fine earthenware and ironstone from the Cauldon Works in Stoke-on-Trent. The Canova pattern is associated with the late 19th century Aesthetic Movement, a period known for its interest in natural forms, asymmetry, birds, insects, botanicals, and Japanese-influenced design.
This plate carries both the Cauldon England / BWM & Co. mark for the Canova pattern and the Paris retailer’s mark for Le Grand Dépôt, E. Bourgeois. Le Grand Dépôt was one of the important Parisian retailers of fine tablewares and decorative ceramics, making this piece especially interesting as an English Staffordshire plate that passed through the Paris market.
The form is softly octagonal, with a beautiful aged surface, blue flecking visible to the reverse, and the kind of desirable crazing and mellow staining collectors look for in early transferware.
Details:
• Origin: Made in England, sourced in Paris
• Maker: Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co., Cauldon
• Retailer: Le Grand Dépôt, E. Bourgeois, 21 Rue Drouot, Paris
• Pattern: Canova
• Material: Transferware earthenware
• Size: 9.75” diameter at shortest point x 10.125” diameter point to angle
• Marking: Cauldon England / BWM & Co. Canova backstamp, Copyright Déposé, numbered 11, with Le Grand Dépôt Paris retailer mark
• Design: Aesthetic Movement bird, insect, botanical, and mushroom transfer design
• Estimated age: Late 19th century, circa 1870s-1880s
Condition:
Wonderful antique condition with desirable age-related crazing, mellow staining, and surface wear throughout. There is one small visible line that does not appear to go through the plate. Blue flecking and glaze irregularities are visible on the reverse, adding to the character of the piece. Sold as is, in found condition. Please look at photos carefully.
