RARE early 1800s CLEWS plate. "
Doctor Syntax taking Possession of his Living". Dr. Syntax, was a satirical, comic character created by William Combe and illustrated by cartoonist Thomas Rowlandson. Rowlandson's engravings feature Dr. Syntax's adventures and misfortunes traveling through the English countryside. These plates were made c.1818-20. The history of the CLEWS brothers in remarkable. "
Ralph and James Clews, born in 1788 and 1790 respectively, were two of the sons of John Clews, a hatter, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. We know little of their early life, but by 1811 James Clews was acting as clerk to the potter Andrew Stevenson, and he and Ralph were in business on their own account by the autumn of 1813.
The Bleak Hill Works in Cobridge, near to Burslem was probably their first pottery. Bleak Hill, a small factory with two ovens, had been operated by Peter Warburton until his untimely death in January 1813 at the age of 40, and his widow Mary was advertising the works for sale or to let in the following month. An insurance policy which the widow Warburton took out in July 1817 specifies the premises as being in the occupation of Ralph and James Clews and it seems likely that the brothers took the opportunity presented by the empty factory when they first entered business in 1813. In 1817, the brothers rented a second factory in Cobridge, the Globe Works, and it was at this pottery they developed their enormous export trade to the United States." (ref online).
This excellent 200+ year old blue and white plate is in very good to excellent condition for age and type. You can see age more from the backside than front, which remains without chip nor hairline, displayed but never damaged, which is rare in itself. Full measurements noted on the photos.
