Albert Francis Wegner - An early 20th Century glaze test pla...

Hammer

£300

Albert Francis Wegner - An early 20th Century glaze test plate, decorated in tonal red and ochre lustre with a portrait of a young woman with banded tresses and draped shawl over red ground, painted AFW monogram to reverse with numerical reference 259 260 and roman numerals XIII, Glaze No.677, diameter 26cm.

NB - The Wenger family first came to Stoke-on-Trent from Switzerland in the 1860s. The business was started in 1870 by Albert Francis Wenger as 'manufacturers and suppliers of colours, oxides and glazes for pottery decoration'. The original works were in Cobridge, by at least 1877 he had moved to Parker Street, Hanley.
Wenger named his works in Hanley Helvetia Works - Helvetia is the female national personification of Switzerland - the figure and name appeared on stamps, coins and statues in Switzerland.   
For a period (c.1880-92 is listed in trade directories) Albert Wenger also manufactured highly coloured earthenware which showed off the colours that they manufactured and was also in partnership with John T Cope as J. T. Cope & Co., china and earthenware manufacturers - this partnership was dissolved in 1886.  The company moved to Etruria around 1900 and developed into a successful manufacturer of materials for decorating ceramic, glass and metals. He also owned an interest with a James Best as Mine Owners and Clay Merchants in Cornwall, this was dissolved in 1896.

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Free from damage, some light crazing, condition commensurate with age and wear.