Flow Blue China

Early Victorian Flow Blue (1830-1860) was ironstone, in intense cobalt with designs which usually cover the entire piece. These designs closely mimicked the Oriental patterns imported from Canton and Nanking.

Mid Victorian (1860-1885) Flow Blue patterns were more elaborate than earlier styles, less angular and more scalloped. Often with floral or nature scenes, the plates and accessory pieces sometimes were trimmed in gold.

Late Victorian Flow Blue (1885-1920) and later, exhibits very definite design changes - using "semi-porcelain" rather than the heavier ironstone. Much less of the surface was covered by the design, and beading or embossing might be added to the rim. Floral designs were most popular, both natural and a little later in the period, Art Nouveau with its stylized flowers and curves.

Manufacturers included Grindley, Johnson Brothers, Alcock, Burgess & Leigh, Wedgwood, and Davenport. In the United States, makers included Wheeling, Wharwick and Mercer. By the late 1800's, more than 1500 patterns in flow blue were available, in various mail-order catalogs and china outlets in the major cities. Flow Blue began to lose some of its popularity and market share as undecorated graniteware and other pottery types began to hit the market at comparable prices.

Most of the major English potters stopped making Flow Blue by the early to mid-1910's. Some continued well into the 1940's however. And today there are reproductions appearing on the market.

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October 31, 2002 Update: This article has been reprinted with permission at the website The Bee's Knees, here: Flow Blue Pottery.

For much more detailed information on the history of Flow Blue, these two sites are outstanding:

Taking Tea's Flow Blue. A detailed history and description of marks, registration marks, and how to identify reproductions.

Flow blue China, by Jennifer Grucza. A treatise describing shards of flow blue found when excavating a site at MIT, Miss Grucza's article is very informative, however the website is unfinished.

If you already collect Flow Blue and are interested in buying or selling any pieces, or if you need help identifying patterns, checking a dealer's website will be very useful. Some of the many dealer websites which specialize in Flow Blue are:

Sunny Lenzner Antiques

The Flow Blue Shop

Sunny's Antiques

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