4903 - Stitch Variation

Tube-lining: Black
Enamels: Scarlet, Goods blue & Handling green
Lustres: Green and primrose yellow lustres
Glaze: Blown Yellow
Frequency Ranking: 39/50
Design Date: Late 1936 or early 1937
Production Period: 1937
Pattern Name: The authors invention, but based on the text description by Bumpus in Collecting Rhead Pottery.

This development of the Stitch and Patch patterns was not as popular as its precursors and probably had quite a short production run. The simple, but elegant art deco inspired motif is especially attractive if the yellow and green lustres are in good condition with an iridescent sheen. The tube-liners did not sign examples of this design.

The charger illustrated has only the primrose lustre on the outer band whereas others have the yellow lustre applied in the centre and the green on the outer band. The interior of the bowl is completely lustred in yellow and the outside in green. Vases and jugs tend to have the yellow lustre band at the top and the green lustre from below the lower line of stitches down to the base rim. But expect to find a lot of variation in how the lustres are applied.

The design we see here is different to the drawing in the pattern book which has complete semi-circles either side of the vertical red "stitch" bar which project through the outer or upper row of stitches. I am still waiting to see if an example of the original design or prototype will turn up. No luck as yet!

Charlotte Rhead Crown Ducal pattern 4903 Stitch Variation
Pattern 4903 Stitch Variation