Rare Sunderland Train Plaque, ‘Express’ with purple lustre border, circa 1855

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Rare Sunderland Lustre ‘Train Plaque’, the deep moulded frame with central scene of an early train with carriages of passengers, making its way through the countryside, the engine titled ‘Express’,

the fancy modded frame with purple lustre marbling & copper rim.

Unmarked, circa 1855

24 x 21.5cm

ref. TransferCollector’sClub database#17878 for the identical print, and a discussion on the attribution and dating. It appears these were a ‘nostalgic’ look back to the earliest train models, as by the 1850’s -90s when most were made, the engines were generations ahead of this wooden barrel locomotive!

Interestingly, the examples shown are all mugs; a plaque is a rarity with Railway subjects. The example shown is marked and has two possible makers, Hampson & Broadhurst of Longton, 1847-1856, or Heath & Blackhurst of Burslem, 1859-1877. Neither are ‘Sunderland’, and this plaque is either an example of the Staffordshire wares that were like the Sunderland products, or a splendid research piece for future attribution of railway prints to Sunderland Potters…… ?

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