A Mason's ironstone plate, 1840 - 1860Maker'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: 4 parts china clay, 4 parts china stone, 4 parts calcined flint, 3 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]
^ abDaniels, E. (1989). "Product Control of Earthenware Manufacture". Transactions and Journal of the British Ceramic Society. 88 (5): 196–199.
^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).
^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.
^Birks, Steve. "Ironstone". Steve Birks. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
^'Dictionary of Ceramics. 3rd edition. Dodd A., Murfin D., The Institute of Materials/Pergamon Press, 1994
^"Mason's Ironstone Retains Its Decorative Tradition". International Tableware. 21 (3). 1991.
^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.
^Keele University, Raven Mason Collection. "Ornamental Ironstone". Keele University. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
^"Mason ware". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012 [1].
^Fleming, John & Hugh Honour. (1977) The Penguin Dictionary of Decorative Arts. London: Allen Lane, p. 399. ISBN 0713909412
^Such a mantelpiece may be seen at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, near Katonah, New York.
^Tharp, Lars. "The Origin of Ironstone". Steve Birks. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
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