Ridgway Bute cups

Job Ridgway built a pottery by the Cauldon Canal, Hanley where production of earthenwares started in 1802. In 1814 he published a memoir in The New Methodist Magazine (see p182 in Godden, 1983) where he describes how Ridgway and Sons started to make china: "My eldest son (John) being now twenty-three years of age, and my other son (William) more than twenty-one, and having served me at Cauldon Place for six years, I gave them, in 1808, an equal share in my business, in this year also we began to make China, which increased our labours and cares; nevertheless, we passed the year in comfort." Ridgway continued to produce china for many decades. Click here to see the pieces in a Ridgway New Oval Teaset

Few early Ridgway porcelains are marked, but the handle shape of the early bute cup was discovered by Geoffrey Godden (p183, 1983). He found a dessert tureen decorated and marked with pattern 487 which was impressed "RIDGWAY & SONS". In plate 274 he illustrated a bute cup, coffee can and saucer decorated in the same pattern and all marked with pattern number 487. The can and cup both had similar handles (see below) which could therefore be attributed to Ridgway.

Ridgway bute cups have a generous loop handle mounted close to the cup rim,  with two gentle kicks along the lower edge.  The top handle attachment rounded, the bottom  slightly pointed (see right). Finely potted with even wall thickness, flat bottom inside and shallow foot recess (less than 3mm). Cups can be separated into 3 groups: (1) Body creamy with finely crazed glaze, foot recess with curved edge, (2) Body white and very translucent, foot recess with vertical edge, (3) similar to group 2 but with narrower base. Handles are often outlined in a gilt or coloured line. Pattern numbers are all more than 300.
Group 1 (creamy body, finely crazed glaze)
Ridgway cup with "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Fine potting in creamy body with slight flare at lip, glaze finely crazed.  Foot recess shallow with curved edges. Came with "new oval" sucrier marked 334 (see right). (see p250 in Emmerson, 1992)  (aj167, h54.8, w84.8, b39.1 handle: h15.5, v30.6, 18.3, k30.1, w7.2, 5.6, t4.4)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy crazed and stained body. Shallow foot recess with vertical edge. Ridgway pattern 435 as matches a plate with this number on base.  (aj197, h53, w84.2, b36.9 handle: h15.8, v29.5, 15.8 , k29.1, w7.4, 5.6, t4.6)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy body with finely crazed glaze. Shallow foot recess with vertical edge. Possibly Ridgway  (aj661, h53.6, w83.5, b35.7 (40)handle: h15 (19.3), v28.8 , k29.1, w7., 5.5, t4.8)
Ridgway cup with "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy body with finely crazed glaze. Shallow foot recess with vertical edge. Patt 302 on teapot, creamer, slop,plate in same set. (aj729, h56.8, w81.7, b38 (42)handle: h17.4 (21.4), v29.2 , k29.3, w7.4, 5.3, t4.5)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy crazed and slightly stained body. Shallow foot recess with shallow curved edge. Possibly Ridgway pattern 313 (cf plate 189, Berthoud, 1990)?  (aj283, h60.8, w83.3, b40 handle: h15.8, v29.6, 16.3 , k29.9, w7.9, 5.9, t5)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge.  With creamer marked pattern 313 in red on base (cf plate 189, Berthoud, 1990)?  (m039, h59, w83, b(41) ) Miller
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy body and very finely crazed glaze, slight flare at rim. Shallow foot recess with vertical edge. Possibly  Ridgway patt 314. (aj523, h55.9, w83.9, b42 (47.3), handle:16.8 (21.8), v28.8, w7.5, 6, t4.7)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy body and very finely crazed glaze, slight flare at rim. Shallow foot recess with gently curved edge. Possibly  Ridgway?. (aj045, h55.5, w85.6, b38.4, handle:17.6, v29.2, w7.2, 5.5, t4.3)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy body with finely crazed glaze. Shallow foot recess with shallow curved edge. Possibly Ridgway patt 396?  (aj539, h60, w84.4, b40.7 (45.3) handle: h15.8 (20.6), v30.3, , k30, w7.6, 5.8, t4.7)
A coffee can with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy crazed body. Shallow foot recess.  Possibly Ridgway?  (aj570, h60.2, w66.1, b53.7 (62.7)  handle: h16.5 (21.9), v30.4, 17.6, k29.7, w7, 5.3, t4.5)
A coffee can with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy crazed body. Shallow foot recess.  Possibly Ridgway?  (aj628, h59.4, w66, b54.7 (63.1)  handle: h16.8 (21.6), v30.8, 18.2, k30, w7.4, 5.6, t4.4)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy body with crazed glazey. Shallow foot recess with vertical edge. Possibly Ridgway ?  (aj542, h57.6, w86.6, b37.8 (43.6) handle: h16.9 (21.5), v29.1,  k29.1, w7.8, 5.1, t5)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy crazed body. Shallow foot recess with gently curved edge. Possibly Ridgway? (see plate 290 in Berthoud, 1990) (aj099, h57.4, w84, b38.9 handle: h16.7, v30.2, 17.5, k29.8, w7.5, 6.1, t3.9)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Marked pattern 2/240. Possibly Ridgway? (m003 w84 )
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Solid potting, even wall thickness, creamy crazed body. Shallow foot recess with gently curved edge. No mark. Saucer with straight sides and no footrim. Pattern similar to new oval teapot marked 321 (plate 1294, Miller and Berthoud,1985). ? Ridgway (aj705, h60.2, w84.4, b34.7 (42) handle: h17.4 (20.9), v30.1, k29.1, w7.2, 5.3, t4.2)
A coffee can with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. solid potting, even wall thickness, creamy crazed body. Shallow foot recess with gently curved edge. No mark. Possibly Ridgway?  (aj706, h57.5, w67.5, b55 (64.4) handle: h17.2 (20.8), v31.4, k29.2, w6.9, 5.2, t4)
A large cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy crazed body. Shallow foot recess with gently curved edge. Brick red print with overpainting (? pattern 330). Possibly Ridgway?  (aj505, h58.5, w89.2, b39 (44.4) handle: h17 (22), v30, 17.5, k30.9, w7.6, 5.8, t5)
A coffee can with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Creamy crazed body. Shallow foot recess with gently curved edge. Brick red print with overpainting (? pattern 330). Possibly Ridgway?  (aj506, h68.5, w58.6, b64.9 (65) handle: h16.6 (21.9), v30.6, 18.1, k29.7, w7.4, 4.4, t4.4)
A coffee can with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Matches teapot (? pattern 414). Possibly Ridgway?  (m007  w67.5 )
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks.  Creamy body and finely crazed glaze.  Decorated in gilt and hand painted flowers.  Possibly Ridgway ? (m044, h57, w87, b(46)) Miller
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Decorated handpainted sprigs. Possibly Ridgway pattern 457? (a021, h52, w87.2, handle: h16, v29.8, w7.5,5.9, t4)
Group 2 (White body, foot recess with vertical edge)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Single gilt line inside. Finely potted in clear white body. Foot recess shallow with vertical edges. Base with pattern 421 in black (2.5mm).   R. Cooke says Ridgway  (aj090, h53.9, w87.6, b41.5 handle: h16.2, v29.4, 17.2, k30.2, w7.4, 5.7, t4.8)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Pale creamy  body. Shallow foot recess with vertical edge. Cup marked pattern 482 in gray, saucer with 2/482 in puce  Possibly Ridgway ?  (aj520, h54.3, w87.3, b39.8 (43.5) handle: h15.7 (20.4), v30.4, 16.3 , k29.5, w7.5, 5.9, t5)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Foot recess with vertical sides. Fine potting in fine, translucent white body. Decorated with blue "Broseley" transfer. Possibly Ridgway ? (aj131, h55.5, w86.2, b44 handle: h16.5, v29.7,  17, k29.9, w7.3, 6, t5.1)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Top and bottom attachments protrude from cup. Fine potting in fine, translucent white body with some crazing.  Decorated with bat print. Foot recess with vertical sides. Possibly Ridgway ? (aj141, h55, w87.4, b41.2 handle: h16.2, v30, 16.1, k28.9, w7.4, 5.4, t4.7)
Ridgway cup with "loop" handle with two gentle kicks.  Very fine potting in translucent white body. Shallow foot recess with vertical sides. Decorated in puce bat print with silver lustre lines (same as new oval teapot plate 1293, Miller and Berthoud,1985). Row of lustre dots along handle.  (aj220, h51.4, w87.4, b38.2 (43.2), handle: h16, v29,  k28.8, w7.4, 6, t5.1)
Group 3 (White body, narrower base (less than 36mm), foot recess with vertical edge)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Very fine potting in fine, translucent white body. Shallow foot recess with vertical sides. Possibly Ridgway patt. 455? (aj047, h54.6, w85.4, b35.1 handle: h16.6, v31.1, 18, k30.1, w7.5, 5.8, t4.5)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Fine potting in translucent white body. Shallow foot recess with vertical sides. Matching London shape creamer marked patt 432 on base (see insert). Possibly Ridgway? (aj591, h54.6, w82.5, b35.1 (40.3) handle: h15.5 (19.7), v29.9, k28.9, w7, 5.3, t4.4)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Thick blue band inside. Finely potted in clear white body. Foot recess shallow with vertical edges. Non marks.   (aj696, h52.4, w85.5, b34.5 (39.5) handle: h15.8, v28.7, , k29.52, w7.3, 5.3, t4.3)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Finely potted in clear white body. Foot recess shallow with vertical edges. No mark.   (aj704, h55, w85.3, b37.4 (42.3) handle: h15.8, v30.3 , k29.9, w7.7, 5.8, t4.4)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Very fine potting in fine, translucent creamy body with finely crazed glaze. Shallow foot recess with vertical sides. Possibly Ridgway pattern 418 (cf plate 1292, Miller and Berthoud, 1985). Painted P on base. (aj501, h56.2, w82.9, b39 (43.8) handle: h15.5 (20.1), v29.4, 16.7, k29.3, w7.4, 5.9, t4.5)
A teabowl with rather solid potting so poor translucency, creamy body with finely crazed glaze. 4mm foot recess with bevelled sides. Marked with grey P on base. Possibly Ridgway. (aj543, h51.3, w88.4, b40.9 (47.6))
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Very fine potting in fine, translucent creamy body with finely crazed glaze. Shallow foot recess with vertical sides. Possibly Ridgway pattern 418 (cf plate 1292, Miller and Berthoud, 1985). (aj284, h54.3, w86.6, b34.3 handle: h16.5, v30.7, 18, k29.3, w7.6, 5.8, t4.4)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Very fine potting in fine, translucent creamy white body. Shallow foot recess with vertical sides. Possibly Ridgway pattern 418  (cf plate 1292, Miller and Berthoud, 1985). (aj308, h55, w83.1, b34.7(39.5)  handle: h15 (20), v29.6, 18, k29.5, w7.1, 5.5, t4.7)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Very fine potting in fine, translucent creamy white body. Shallow foot recess with vertical sides. Cup shape closer to Hicks and Meigh. Possibly  Ridgway pattern 418  (cf above) but no "bottle brushes" from top part of shell. (aj402, h53.2 w88.2, b38.8 (43.7)  handle: h13.9 (18.6), v29.8, 17.4, k29.3, w7.1, 5.5, t4.1)
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks.  Very fine potting in translucent white body. Decorated in silver lustre and dark apricot.  Possibly Ridgway ? (m043, h52, w87, b(42)) Miller
A cup with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks.  Very fine potting in translucent white body. Shallow foot recess with vertical sides. Decorated in silver lustre resist with red lines. Row of lustre dots along handle. Saucer in creamy body with finely crazed glaze. Possibly Ridgway ? (aj260, h55, w82.7, b35.2, handle: h16.5, v30.3, 15.8, k29.2, w7.1, 5.4, t4.1)
Coffee can with a Ridgway-style "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge.  Fine potting in translucent creamy body, some staining, finely crackled glaze. Shallow foot recess.  Decorated in silver lustre resist with red lines. Row of lustre dots along handle. Possibly Ridgway ? (aj236, h58.2, w64.9, b(60.5), handle: h16.0, v29.9, 17.7, k30, w7.1, 5.2, t4.4)
Coffee can with "loop" handle with two gentle kicks along the lower edge. Fine potting in translucent body.  Foot recess shallow with near vertical sides. Decorated in black bat print (similar to new oval teapot plate 1295, Miller and Berthoud,1985). Ridgway ? (aj609, h58.8, w66.5, b57.6 (65.5) handle: h16.5 (21.2), v31.9, k30, w7.2, 6, t464)
Cup with "loop" handle with two gentle kicks.  Very fine potting in translucent white body. Narrow base, shallow foot recess with vertical sides. Decorated in puce bat print with silver lustre lines (print same as aj708, similar to new oval teapot plate 1293, Miller and Berthoud,1985). Row of lustre dots and line along handle.  Possibly Ridgway ? (aj192, h51.1, w87.1, b34.7 (38.2), handle: h15.5, v27.7,  k28.3, w7.5, 5.8, t4.5)
Cup with "loop" handle with two gentle kicks.  Very fine potting in translucent white body, finely crazed glaze. Narrow base, shallow foot recess with vertical sides. Decorated in puce bat print with silver lustre lines (print similar to one on Hicks and Meigh page). Row of lustre dots and line along handle.  Possibly Ridgway ? (aj362, h55.6, w83.9, b35.5 (39.4), handle: h15.0 (19), v29.7,  k28.9, w7.0, 5.5, t4.2)

References

Berthoud, M (1990) "A Compendium of British Cups", Micawber Publications, Bridgnorth. Emmerson, R. (1992) "British Teapots and Tea Drinking" HMSO, London. Godden, G. A. .(1983) The Ridgway porcelains, 1808 - 1856 in Staffordshire Porcelain. ed. Godden, G. A. Granada.  Miller, P and Berthoud, M (1985) "An anthology of British Teapots", Micawber Publications, Bridgnorth.

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