Machin Bute cups

Joseph Machin, who was a steward of the Wesleyan Methodist Society in Burslem, had his works in Nile Street, Burslem and trade directories suggest that he had started to manufacture china by 1809 in partnership with Baggaley (see Thom and Miller, 2008; Miller, 1983). By 1818 the firm traded as Machin & Co and this continued until Joseph's death in 1831. During this period Machin & Co was one of the largest manufacturers in Burslem. In 1831  Machin's son William took over until about 1841 when the directories no longer refer to the firm.

Machin porcelain teawares have been identified by Philip Miller from rare examples marked  hand painted or printed with "Machin & Co. Burslem". Fortunately, although most pieces have no makers mark, many have pattern numbers which have allowed them to be distinguished from the wares of other makers (Berthoud, 2002). Thom and Miller (2008), Miller (1983 and 1988) and Berthoud (2002) illustrate most of the known Machin shapes. Bute cups usually have ring handles but in 1988 he also illustrated one cup with a thumb-rest and inner spur (rather like aj191, but more generous). 

There are two main types of ring handle, large and small. Both are rather delicate,  a little flattened in section and more like a figure 9 than most other ring handles. The small type is not common. Rarely a much larger loop handle and a handle with a thumb-rest and inner spur have been found (not illustrated).
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large  type. Pattern number 311 (~5mm high) painted in black on the base.  (aj034 h56.7, w78.3, b37.7, handle: v16.3, h13.4, w7.8, 4.8)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large  type. This is pattern number 1 but there is no number mark on the base. (a102 )

 

Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large  type. This is pattern number 19 (see no: 406 in British Teapots and Tea Drinking) but there is no number mark on the base. (aj010 h62.3, w76.9, b38.8, handle: v17.5, h16.2, w7.7)

 

Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large type.  There is no number mark on the base of the cup or saucer but this is pattern number 208 and the picture shows this number (h 5mm) from a bread and butter plate with the same pattern. (aj038, h58,w77.7, b36,  handle: v17.7, h17.1, w7.5)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large type.  There is no number mark on the base of the cup or saucer but this is pattern number 208. (a087)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large type.  There is no number mark on the base of the cup or saucer but this is pattern number 222. (aj351, h59, w83.8, b38 (43),  handle: v17.0, h17.3, w7.6,4.9, t3.4)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large type. Bat print decoration. There is no number or mark on the base but print is same as pattern 189. (aj039 h60.2, w82.1, b38.3, handle: v17.1, h17.3, w7.9)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large  type. There is no number or mark on the base but this is pattern 18. (aj135 h61.3, w80.5, b39.2, handle: v16.9, h16.9, w7.9, 5.1)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large  type. Transfer Broseley pattern. There is a small hand painted blue mark on the base. (aj124 h59.5, w79.1, b35.7, handle: v17.1, h17, w7.4, 5.1)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large type. Hand coloured over black transfer. There is no number or mark on the base but this is pattern 645. (aj111 h58.5, w79.5, b37.1, handle: v17.6, h17.6, w7.9, 5.2)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large type. Hand painted. There is no number or mark on the base. Pattern 280. (aj509 h58.1, w79.8, b38.4 (44.8), handle: v17.1, h17.4, w7.9, 5.2)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large type. Hand painted. There is no number but a small mark like  S.S  on the base. This is pattern 354. (aj347 h59.6, w80.1, b40.9 (45.6), handle: v17.3, h16.5, w7.6, 5.0)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the large type. Hand coloured over gray brown transfer. There is no number or mark on the base but this is pattern 315. (aj326 h57.2, w77.4, b37.6 (42.7), handle: v17.1, h16.3, w7.8, 5.1, t3.7)
Machin cup with a "ring" handle of the small Machin type. No number or mark on the base but a slop bowl with this pattern had 137 in red on base. (aj020 h57.1, w81.5, b39,  handle: v14.7, h13.4, w8.5). The part of the 9 forming the lower attachment is longer than the similar Minton handle.
Other contemporary shapes
Machin  new oval creamer  marked with pattern number 208 (h 5.0mm) and a small circle in red on base.  The nearly horizontally pointing thumbrest on the handle is a diagnostic Machin feature. This is one style of creamer contemporary with the bute cups. (aj246 max length of outside of base 71.2mm)
A teabowl of the Machin type with outward curved footrim. White body, even wall thickness. No number or mark on the base. Possibly Machin. (aj389 h49.8, w85.3, b40.9 (47.5))
A teabowl of the Machin type with outward curved footrim. Creamy body crazed and stained inside. No number or mark on the base but this is pattern 140. Possibly Machin. (aj328 h51.7, w79.8, b35.8 (41.9))
Machin  coffee can with typical ring handle.  Creamy body with white/gray translucency. Pattern printed in brick red and over painted by hand. No number or mark on the base but this is pattern 140.  (aj510 h59.1, w62.7, b53.9 (61.5) handle: v17.4, h16.5, w7.9, 5.1, t3.7)

References

Berthoud, M (2002) "Patterns on Machin Porcelain", Ceramic Bulletin No. 12, Micawber Publications, Bridgnorth. Miller, P (1983) The Machin porcelains, 1809 - 1840 p201-208. in Staffordshire Porcelain. ed. Godden, G. A. Granada. Miller, P (1988) The Machin factory. p2 -11 Miller, P and Berthoud, M (1985) "An anthology of British Teapots", Micawber Publications, Bridgnorth.. Thom, W and Miller, P (2008) "Machin", Castlehills Publishing, Berwick upon Tweed.

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