In 1836 the premises were opened by Messrs. Robinson, Wood, & Brownfield, and after Mr. Robinson’s death, in the same year, were continued by Wood & Brownfield. In 1850 Mr. Wood retired, and the business was continued solely by Mr. Brownfield (who died in 1873) until 1871, when he was joined in partnership by his eldest son, Mr. William Etches Brownfield, and from that time to the present the firm has been carried on under the style of “W. Brownfield & Son.” The goods produced during the earlier period of the works were the ordinary white, blue printed, and sponged varieties of earthenware. From 1850, when the works became the sole property of Mr. Brownfield, rapid strides were made in the improvement of the wares, and under the present firm they have become equal to any others produced. In earthenware, which, both in body and glaze, is of more than average quality, Messrs. Brownfield & Son produce white, printed, enamelled, and gilt wares, from the simplest to the more elaborate and costly patterns, in table, toilet, and dessert services, and all the usual articles for household use. Many of the printed patterns are well designed, and in the better classes of goods the enamelling and gilding are very effective. Some of the most successful are imitations of the grand old patterns adopted by Mason on his ironstone china. The stoneware jugs produced are a speciality of this firm, and take a foremost rank; in quality of body they are remarkably good; while in form, in modelling, and in decoration they are of equal excellence. The group Fig. [439] represents some examples from the Exhibition of 1862, where the firm, as well as at Paris in 1867, received a medal. Tea services, tea-kettles, tea-pots, flower-pots, vases, jardinière, trinket services, and other goods, are also produced in earthenware in every style of decoration. Notably among these is a remarkably well-designed and elegant strawberry tray, formed of shells and strawberry leaves, with a seated Cupid in the centre at the back; it is particularly artistic, both in composition, in execution, and in colouring.
In 1871 the manufacture of china was added to that of earthenware (new buildings being specially erected for the purpose), and the productions in this department have made rapid strides towards perfection. In china, dinner, tea, breakfast, dessert, and other services, jugs, and a variety of useful articles, as well as vases and other fancy goods, are produced. Messrs. B. & S. have, in this branch, produced some novel and very effective designs in dessert services, centre-pieces, fern and flower-stands, &c., and some of their vases are of the highest style of excellence. Notably among these is a pair of magnificent vases, exquisitely painted, with Etty-like subjects of “Morning and Mid-day.” These are among the highest achievements of modern Art. Among the minor pieces is an oviform vase representing the hatching of the egg. The body of the vase is true to nature in colour—that of a sea-bird’s egg; the handles are formed of the heads, and the bird’s legs and feet form the stand.
Fig. 440.
The mark of the firm upon the printed goods was formerly W & B, W B, or W B & S, in addition to the name of the pattern. The present mark on both earthenware and porcelain is—
Fig. 442.
Fig. 441.
The impressed marks are the Staffordshire knot (Fig. [442]), enclosing the initials W B; and the name BROWNFIELD.