{"id":326352,"date":"2025-12-01T16:31:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/thoughts-on-transferware-and-flow-blue\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T16:31:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:31:32","slug":"thoughts-on-transferware-and-flow-blue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=326352","title":{"rendered":"Thoughts on Transferware and Flow Blue"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

For those of you looking to incorporate antique transferware or flow blue into the design of your home. I\u2019ve been in love with this style and color palette since I moved to NYC and we had our first apartment. When I go into an antique store, I almost always buy transferware! It\u2019s so classic and never goes out of style. Each item has a story in the images and all sorts of imperfections that show the human hand that went into making it. If a piece is yellowed and cracked, I love it even more. The older it looks, the better.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We have an antique and vintage section in our shop and we often carry these items. You have to be inventive when thinking about how to use them. Especially because they are so old (over 100 years) they can be damaged and need special consideration. The materials they used 100 years ago to make these items contained materials we would not use today (some of the glazes had lead in them). Never fear, there are so many wonderful ways to use these beautiful items that don\u2019t include eating off of them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Collecting of transferware and flow blue can get very detailed. There were over 1,500 patterns and many manufactures in England. Then the color ways. Some people only collect certain color ways which can range from dark blue, to light blue, dark purple to light purple and shades of green.<\/p>\n

Transferware gets its name from the concept of \u2018transferring\u2019 art onto a ceramic object. Previous to transferware, if you wanted a decorative plate, it was generally hand painted. As you can imagine this was expensive and was only for the upper class. There was a demand in 1750s England for something more affordable. Transferware was printed patterns using copper plates (same process that was used for books) and were transferred onto each item saving lots of time over hand painting. Therefore, it was more affordable. You can see a bit of the overlap of the pattern being transferred if you look closely.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you see a blue and white dish where the transferware looks a bit blurry, it\u2019s called Flow Blue. The same transferware process was used, however an additive was put into the kiln to make the pattern softer and blur. These pieces date to about 1820 and were widely sold in America.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Seam in pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The pattern edges on this transferware are pretty crisp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
While still transferware, we see the trademark flow blue blur around the edges of the pattern. It has a much softer look. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another layer of design for these objects is the patterns. There are over 1,500 patterns and some popular ones that many manufactures made, like Blue Willow. You can do a deep dive to see if you want to collect a certain pattern or even a specific color way. Some of the colors have nicknames, for instance purple is called Mulberry. Knowing the names of the items you love will help with internet searches when you want to grow your collection.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are so many considerations when looking at each item \u2013 sometimes condition will dictate how an item will be used. For instance a beautiful platter might have a crack down the center and not be suitable for food. You can still hang it on the wall as a piece of art, or use a plate stand and to showcase the platter upright like a piece of art. I love a good list, here\u2019s what I look for:\u00a0<\/p>\n