Cairo

Pitcher, 7 inches tall. Brown transfer. Printed maker's mark for the Old Hall Earthenware Co. Ltd. Although there is no evidence for Christopher Dresser as the designer, the "Cairo" pattern is incredibly similar in style and execution to the attributed patterns the famous Aesthetic designer created for Old Hall Earthenware Co. Ltd. This particular pattern consists of a band of highly-stylized flowers and foliage that originate at the front of the pitcher and arch around the body towards the handle. The border consists of a band of similar flowers and foliage. Both bands are bordered by a simple scalloped edge with each apex decorated by a simple circle.

The Old Hall Earthenware Co. Ltd. was an English pottery established in the Staffordshire town of Hanley in 1805 by Job Meigh (d 1817). It was successively known as Job Meigh (1805–12), Job Meigh & Son (1812–34), Charles Meigh (1834–49), C. Meigh, Son & Pankhurst (1850–51), Charles Meigh & Son (1851–61), Old Hall Earthenware Co. Ltd (1861–86) and Old Hall Porcelain Works Ltd (1886–1902). In March 1861 Charles Meigh Jr. transferred the business to a limited liability company called the Old Hall Earthenware Co Ltd. This was the first limited liability company in the Staffordshire Potteries. In the 1880s the designers included Christopher Dresser. The pottery closed in 1902 and the Old Hall Works was demolished in 1904.