| One of the more affordable forms of decorating | | | | evidence that the picture or design is in fact |
| porcelain is called transferware, which is similar to | | | | transferware. |
| stenciling. When first developed, this technique was | | | | Quality items were made using this method, but |
| much less costly than the hand painted method. Prior | | | | cheaper pieces were made this way as well. This |
| to transferware, only the wealthy could afford to | | | | happened when a manufacturer would cut a few |
| purchase patterned china and related items. Since its | | | | corners to save time. Sometimes the "stencils" were |
| inception, transferware has been used on | | | | too long or too wide for the piece and they would |
| earthenware, pottery, stoneware, porcelain and also | | | | have to be cut off. A quality piece had the transfer |
| bone china. | | | | cut to the correct dimensions first and then it was |
| This process required the desired pattern to be | | | | properly aligned making the design much more |
| engraved onto a copper plate, which was then inked. | | | | pleasing to the eye. |
| Following this a piece of thin paper was impressed | | | | It was not until the 1750s that potters in the |
| onto the inked engraving. This impression was then | | | | Staffordshire region of England began to experiment |
| "transferred," hence the name transferware, onto | | | | with this process. Often their transfers show country |
| the surface of the piece of porcelain being decorated. | | | | scenes including flora and fauna of the period. Scenes |
| The piece was then dipped in water to remove the | | | | from the "New World" became a very popular |
| paper covering. | | | | subject matter, as well as souvenir pieces denoting |
| Upon the completion of the transfer, the piece was | | | | particular events or towns or even famous people. |
| fired in a low-temperature kiln to permanently adhere | | | | Transferware was made in a number of colors. They |
| the affixed design. Depending on the manufacturer, | | | | included black, brown (sepia), flow blue, pink, red, |
| the transfer could be done either under or over the | | | | green, purple (mulberry) and yellow. Some of the |
| glaze. Needless to say, the transfers that were | | | | companies known for their transferware production |
| applied under the glaze were longer lasting than those | | | | were Clarice Cliff, Enoch Woods & Sons, Ridgway, |
| applied to the surface where they had no protection | | | | Spode, Wedgwood and Johnson Bros. Over the |
| from either the elements or cleaning. | | | | years, the art of transferware has proven to not |
| For those not familiar with this method, take a close | | | | only be cost effective for manufacturers but also |
| look at a piece of transferware under high | | | | popular with consumers and collectors. It is still being |
| magnification and you will clearly see thousands of | | | | produced today. |
| tiny dots that make up the pattern. This is real | | | | |