Scenes After Constable - W H Grindley

Name: W H Grindley "Scenes After Constable"
 
Type: Gravy Boat with Underplate
 
Year: c. 1940s–1950s
 
Set: Yes ( Gravy Boat with Underplate)
 
Mark: W H Grindley - W.H. Grindley & Co., Staffordshire, England
 
History: This English gravy boat with underplate is from the Scenes After Constable series, produced by W.H. Grindley, a notable Staffordshire pottery established in 1880 and known for its export ware and pastoral transfer patterns. The series was inspired by the romantic rural landscapes of John Constable, a leading 19th-century British landscape painter.
 
 
The brown transferware scene shows a quaint English countryside featuring a cathedral or church spire, a cottage, and lush trees—clearly echoing Constable's style. Accents of hand-applied enamel (notably the sky blue and yellow) add visual depth. The matching underplate features stylized floral borders and lattice cartouches.
 
 
This piece is transfer printed with “Permanent Colours, Acid and Detergent Proof,” indicating post-war utility ware, likely aimed at export markets including the US. The additional note of “A. Hill” suggests a tribute or re-interpretation by an in-house designer.
 
 
The condition shows some mild discoloration and manufacturing imperfections typical of utilitarian pottery of this era, and it holds more historical than monetary value. However, the pairing of underplate and vessel enhances its appeal to collectors of mid-century British ceramics and transferware.
 
Flaws: Minimal age related stain specks