Tartan

Collectors Facts - Tartan, Brockwitz

Extract from Brockwitz catalogue 1915, courtesy Dieter Neumann

Shapes:

Blumenbowl (cuspidor shape)

Bowls, various sizes

Butter

Celery

Creamer

Epergne, 13" & 15"

Stemmed cake plate (various)

Tray, rectangular

Tumbler

Tumble-up

Vase, cylinder shape 13"

Vase, trumpet shape, 9.25"

Water pitcher

Colours:

Marigold; blue

Marigold

The original Brockwitz name for this pattern was Kopenhagen. Also known as Daisy & Cane, and Olympia.

The overall effect of Tartan is of criss-crossed diamonds that are filled with flat buttons. Some items in Tartan also have a very distinctive flat sectioned top edge (castellated).

There are two main variations of the pattern: on one variation alternate buttons have either a file pattern or a floral “daisy” pattern (the “daisy and cane” variation) while on the other main variation all the buttons are quite plain and smooth. This can be seen clearly in the images on the right: the creamer has the plain buttons and the celery and the cylinder vase (courtesy of Peter Phillips) are the "daisy and cane" version.

A wide range of shapes in Tartan was illustrated in Brockwitz’ catalogues from 1915 (an extract is shown above). The “daisy and cane” variation was shown in the 1915 catalogue while the plain button variation was shown in their 1928 catalogue. The likely explanation is that Brockwitz re-tooled the moulds, removing the “daisy and cane” effect and creating the flat, plain buttons. It seems likely that items with the “daisy and cane” effect are probably pre 1928. A further variation was illustrated in a 1923 issue of the British Pottery Gazette in which all the buttons have the file pattern.

Left: trumpet shaped vase

Above: covered butter courtesy J&F Hodgson

Right: stemmed cake plate

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