Pottery lids with decorative transfers have become expensive to collect

In the days before the advent of tin cans and prepackaged food, many products were packed and marketed in pottery jars with lids bearing transfer decorations. For many years, these lids have been a favorite among collectors who appreciate their decorative value.

The first pottery pot lids were manufactured in the early 19th century. The best known of the early potters is F. & R. Pratt of Staffordshire, who employed many designs of the talented engraver Jesse Austin. Other firms known to have produced pot lids are the Mayer brothers, Cauldon Potteries and John Ridgeway. There was tremendous demand for the pots and lids because many products ranging from hair pomades to pickled meats were shipped and sold in these containers.

The decorative element incorporated in the pots and lids was an attempt at marketing by producers of various consumer products. The containers could be reused and the lids became colorful additions to kitchen walls as well as practical adaptations for covering pans and protecting table tops from hot materials.

Many companies ordered the most basic lids with black or brown transfer lettering that advertised the product and its manufacturer. The best examples of these lettered pot lids with simple decorative borders date from the mid-to-late 19th century. Such lids promoted everything from mustard to toothpaste and a whole variety of other products such as relishes, shrimp, potted meats and sauces.

The lettered pot lids are popular in their own right but most interest in decorative jar covers centers on the decorated transfer pictures done in one or more colors. The majority of the high-quality designs were done by Jesse Austin, a talented artist and engraver who worked for Pratt. Some of Austin’s designs are initialed by the artist and it is known that other firms used his work as well. In the 1920s, when Austin’s plates were sold to Cauldon, many of the pot lids were reissued as decorative wall hangings. These later issues can be distinguished from the originals because most have holes drilled at the top for wire.

Subject matter, overall design, color and execution are all important factors in determining value and collectibility. The Pratt, Fenton and Mayer potteries all produced high-quality pictures of historic figures, village scenes, literary and political luminaries, romantic scenes and animals. Jars designed to hold specific products often bore transfer pictures of the product or the village of origin. Particularly popular are pictures of fish, shrimp and scenes of fishing boats pulling their nets.

American pot lids are quite scarce. In many cases it is difficult to distinguish them from their English counterparts. Some were produced in this country while others were made in England for export to the American market. Generally the American pot lids were used for such products as hair pomade, shaving compounds, hand cream and cold cream. There are some examples of potted meats and relishes but they are considerably more scarce than English examples.

Needless to say, it is difficult to find pot lids in perfect condition. They were made as utilitarian objects and as such were subject to all of the wear and tear a kitchen container would receive in daily use. Rim chips, crazing and cracks are common. In the case of lids used as coasters to protect table tops, the transfer decorations are often worn or faded. Although these factors do affect prices, there are greater concerns for collectors. Really fine scenic transfer decorations in more than one color are so hard to find that many potential buyers will overlook minor flaws.

If you decide to embark on a career of collecting pot lids, be prepared to part with some hefty sums. The average lid will fetch more than $100 and rarities often command three or four times that amount. For the beginner, there are still some bargains out there in the $25-to-$50 range.

Robert Croul, the NEWS antiques columnist, is from Newburgh.