Mulberry: Victorian Transferware in Purple-Brown Tones

Mulberry is a distinctive color of transfer-printed pottery produced primarily by Staffordshire potteries between 1830 and 1860. Named for the deep purple-brown color of the mulberry fruit, this transferware sits between the earlier blue-and-white transfer prints and the later polychrome styles. Mulberry-colored wares were produced by many of the same factories that made blue Staffordshire -- including Podmore Walker, T.J. & J. Mayer, John Alcock, Edward Challinor, and Charles Meigh -- and share the same romantic, scenic, and flow-blue-adjacent aesthetic that appeals strongly to collectors of early Victorian ceramics.

History and Production

Transfer printing in mulberry tones emerged in the early 1830s as Staffordshire potters experimented with colors beyond the traditional cobalt blue. The mulberry color was achieved using manganese-based pigments that produced a range of tones from warm reddish-purple to cool grayish-brown, depending on the specific formula and firing conditions. Many mulberry patterns were also produced in "flow" versions, where the printed design was allowed to blur and bleed during firing, creating a softer, more atmospheric effect similar to flow blue.

Production peaked in the 1840s and 1850s, coinciding with heavy export to the American market. Many patterns feature American-themed scenes, classical ruins, exotic landscapes, and romantic vignettes that were popular with middle-class Victorian buyers.

Identification and Marks

• Maker's marks: Most mulberry pieces bear impressed or printed maker's marks and pattern names on the reverse. Common makers include:
  • Podmore Walker & Co. (P.W. & Co.): Washington Vase, Corean, Temple patterns
  • T.J. & J. Mayer: Abbey, Florentine, Rhone Scenery
  • Edward Challinor: Pelew, Vincennes
  • John Alcock: Vincennes, Peruvian
  • Charles Meigh: Jenny Lind
• Pattern names: Usually printed on the reverse within a decorative cartouche. The pattern name is essential for identification and valuation.
• Body type: Mulberry transferware is almost always on white or cream-colored ironstone or semi-porcelain.

Popular Patterns and Forms

• Scenic/topographical: Washington Vase, Temple, Palestine, Corean -- patterns depicting real or imagined landscapes.
• Floral: Cyprus, Bochara, Flora -- dense floral patterns, often in flow mulberry.
• Romantic/figural: Patterns with figures in landscapes, classical ruins, or exotic settings.
• Forms produced: Full dinner services including plates, platters, tureens, vegetable dishes, pitchers, cups and saucers, teapots, and wash sets. Serving pieces and tureens are the rarest forms.

Auction Price Ranges

Condition Factors

• Transfer clarity: Sharp, well-defined prints are more desirable than blurred or faded examples. However, flow mulberry is intentionally blurred and should not be confused with worn printing.
• Staining: Mulberry ironstone is prone to utensil marks, tea staining, and discoloration. Light staining is expected; heavy staining significantly reduces value.
• Chips and cracks: Rim chips are the most common defect and reduce plate values by 40-60%. Hairline cracks can be difficult to see in the mulberry color -- always check carefully.
• Crazing: Common on ironstone of this period. Minimal crazing is acceptable; heavy crazing with staining is a significant defect.
• Repairs: Stapled repairs (period) are historically interesting but reduce value. Modern adhesive repairs are a negative unless invisible.

Collecting Tips

• Mulberry transferware is significantly less expensive than comparable blue Staffordshire, making it an excellent entry point for transferware collectors.
• Serving pieces (tureens, sauce boats, large platters) are harder to find and appreciate faster than plates.
• Flow mulberry -- where the design intentionally bleeds -- appeals to collectors of both flow blue and mulberry and tends to command higher prices than sharp-printed examples.
• Building a matched set in a single pattern is challenging but rewarding. The most commonly available patterns are Corean, Washington Vase, and Pelew.
• Petra Williams's multi-volume "Flow Blue China" series covers many mulberry patterns and is an essential reference despite its flow blue focus.
• Check the reverse of every piece for pattern name and maker -- this information is critical for accurate identification and fair pricing.