Transferware Process

Before the transferware process of printing was developed, each piece would be hand decorated. The process of producing one set was laborious and costly. Once the mass production of transfer printing came about, middle class families could enjoy dinnerware sets similar to that found in the higher class families but at an affordable price.

The transfer printing process was developed by John Sadler and Guy Green of Liverpool in 1756. The process starts with an engraved copper plate similar to those used for making paper engravings. The plate is used to print the pattern on tissue paper, then the tissue paper transfers the wet ink to the ceramic surface.

Copper plates are intricately hand engraved Photo Credit Nick Pope

Color is spread on the plate which rests on a hot stove
PhotoCredit Nick Pope

Hand-Engraved Roller is an alternative method which is uses for continuous printing. PhotoCredit Nick Pope

Hand-Pressed Border, A tissue design is applied by hand and rubbed on to the ware. A water bath disintegrates the tissue, leaving only the pattern.

The pottery is then dipped in water to float off the paper, glazed, and re-fired.

The ceramic is then fired in a low temperature kiln to fix the pattern. This can be done over or under the glaze, but the underprinting method is more durable.

Transfer printing was originally produced in single-color items only, with colors in blue, red, black, brown, purple and green.  Brown tended to be rather a common and inexpensive color, while blue was the most popular, and expensive color. Later, technology developed to allow double or triple color transfers. Often, the rim of a plate was in one color and the center design in another.

Staffordshire Blue & White Quadrapeds Plate Bishopantiques

Karl Juengel Studio D

Be Sociable, Share!

•