Thomas & John Mayer
Thomas John & Joseph Mayer






 

Location and period of operation:

T & J Mayer

Burslem

1838

1843

T J & J Mayer

Burslem

1843

1855

 

Earthenware, China, Parian and blue printed ware manufacturers at the Furlong Works and also the Dale Hall Works, Longport, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England

 

NOTE: in the 1841 Pigot's Directory the two brothers Thomas and John were recorded as operating the Dale Hall Works. In 1843 they were joined by Joseph Mayer. 

  • Thomas Mayer had been in business as a pottery manufacturer from around 1826. Around 1838 he was joined by his brother John and they operated as T & J Mayer. 

  • In 1841 the business employed around 500 people. 

  • In 1843 another brother, Joseph, joined the partnership which became T. J & J Mayer

  • T J & J Mayer exhibited at the British Exhibitions of 1851, 1853 and 1855. They won a medal at the 1851 Exhibition. 

  • The business had a 'large export trade - particularly to North America'. Ware for the American market sometimes include the address '86 Pearl Street, New York'  

  • Thomas Mayer died in October 1855.  

  • Liddle Elliot joined the business which operated as Mayer Bros & Elliot

Previously: Thomas Mayer

Subsequently: Mayer Bros & Elliot  

 

 

From - The Ceramic Art of Great Britain, Llewellynn Jewitt, 1878


".. under Messrs. Mayer, who came from Stoke to Dale Hall,* rapid strides were made in art manufactures, and many important improvements effected. 

They were exceedingly clever potters, especially Mr. Jos. Mayer, who died prematurely through excessive study and application to his art. They introduced many important improvements in the manufacture and decoration, especially in the beautiful polychromatic bisque printing which is continued by their successors and other firms. 

Besides ordinary earthenware, this firm produced stoneware of a highly vitreous quality; Parian of an improved body ; a fine caneware, in which some remarkably good jugs (notably the "oak" pattern) were made ; and other wares. 

In the stoneware, besides many well modelled jugs and other articles, they made tea-urns, which they were the first to introduce, of excellent design and admirable finish... The peculiar body of the stoneware of which they were made was capable of withstanding the variations of temperature to which vessels of this kind, usually formed of metal, are liable. These were not made to any extent by Messrs. Mayer, but are now being reproduced by Messrs. Bates, Walker, & Co. with great success; they are highly ornate in appearance, and will doubtless come much into use. Messrs. Mayer also produced some admirable designs in vases, decorated with a profusion of exquisitely modelled raised flowers...

The dinner plates, dishes, &c., of Messrs. Mayer, were characterized by an excellent "fit" in nesting, by lightness of body, and by neatness of finish in decoration. 

In 1851 they received a medal for their exhibits, and again in the New York Exhibition of 1853 and the Paris Exhibition of 1855 medals were awarded.

 

*Probably from the manufactory at Cliff Bank, previously worked by D. Bird. Shaw says that those works were had by T. Mayer in 1829, and continues, "We shall just notice here that Mr. T. Mayer has succeeded in a chef-ďoeuvre of the Art of Pottery, by many considered as the best Specimen of Solid Earthenware hitherto produced. It is an Earthenware Table, of truly elegant workmanship, thirty-two inches diameter, on an elegant pedestal of proportionate dimensions, ornamented in a very chaste style, with subject from National History.""

 

 

Thomas & John Mayer

 


transferware plate in the Nonpareil pattern

Nonpareil - 'having no equal' 


T & J Mayer
Longport

Nonpareil is the pattern name

c. 1838-43

 

 

 


transferware plate in the Abbey Ruins pattern

 


T & J Mayer
Longport

c. 1838-43

 

 

Thomas, John & Joseph Mayer

In 1843 another brother, Joseph, joined Thomas & John and the partnership became T. J & J Mayer

T J & J Mayer exhibited at the British Exhibitions of 1851, 1853 and 1855. They won a medal at the 1851 Exhibition. 

 

 

The London Gazette

Selected by the Committee for the Staffordshire Potteries 
to exhibit at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1855

 

 

 

 

"Bird's nest" moulded parian ware jug with pewter lid 

registered design: 70088
Proprietor: Thomas, John and Joseph Mayer.
Address: Dale Hall Pottery, Longport Staffordshire.

T. J. & J. Mayer's
Patent
Dalehall Pottery
Longport 

mark incorporating the British Royal Arms

the registration diamond shows that the pattern/design was registered on the 
2nd July 1850

 

 


transferware plate in one of the Rhone Scenery series  


T. J. & J. Mayer

c. 1843-55

 

 

 


Prize Medal 1851 
T J & J Mayer
Dale Hall Pottery
Longport

mark incorporating the British Royal Arms

the registration diamond shows that the pattern/design was registered on the 
2nd September 1851

 

Mark supplied by Cheryl Griffin (Fairfield county, Connecticut, United States)
- the serving platter has been used in her family for generations

 


shard with the mark referencing 'Prize Medal 1851'

c. 1851-55

 
this shard was found in Northern California at a locale where the well heeled, included governors and judges, summered from 1850’s to around 1900. 

photo supplied by: Nathan Blunt

 


 

 

 


 1898 OS map of the Dalehall area

St. Paul's parish church is clearly seen in the top right centre of the map. 

Adjoining the church and marked in dark blue is the Dale Hall Brick and Tile Works the green lines are Dale Street and Hall Street - indicative of the name of the district

To the left the purple area is Portland House

The Pottery works of the Dale Hall Pottery and Dale Hall Works are marked in light blue and red adjoining the Dale Hall Works on the Trent and Mersey Canal is the Albany Works

In the bottom right centre is The Newport Street Works of Wood & Sons

 

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks