Berry

Plate, 10.5 inches diameter. Red transfer. Printed cartouche mark identifies this pattern as "Berry" and the maker as William Ridgway. This pattern features a thorny blackberry branch with a cluster of large leaves in the center of the well. There are delicate stems extending in all directions hanging with blackberries and the receptacles of plucked berries. The blackberry plant is superimposed over delicate leafy stems on which two butterflies or moths rest. The border is composed of two thin, thorny stems winding around each other forming a chain.

The brothers John Ridgway and William Ridgway were in partnership at the Cauldon Works from 1814-1830. In 1830 the two brothers inherited the Bell Works from their uncle George; John kept the Cauldon Works and William moved to the Bell works. The Church Works were owned by Joseph Mayer who, in about 1832, rented part of the works to William Ridgway. William Ridgway was Joseph Mayer's cousin. Joseph Mayer had in his employ a 'clever modeller', Leonard James Abington, who was also a chemist, and around 1834 he placed him in partnership, thus making the '& Co.' in William Ridgway & Co. When Joseph Mayer ceased potting in 1832 he then let the majority of his works to W. Ridgway & Co., retained an oven and other parts of the works.