April, 1914 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
13s 
Lowestoft teapots and chocolate pot. Collection of Miss Sarah Kimball, Salem, Massachusetts 
Roses and garlands of roses in these lovely hues of pink 
and purple distinguish this china. Dainty and familiar are 
the Bowers and sprigs in natural colors, with delicate bor- 
ders in color and gold. 
In the Metropolitan Museum of Line Arts there is a 
collection of more than thirty pieces of Lowestoft with the 
blue and gold decoration. It is placed in cases with speci- 
mens of other old English china and is conspicuously 
labeled “Lowestoft” many times, showing that the au- 
thorities here do not regard it as Oriental. It has the 
well-known blue border starred with gold, which is very 
beautiful. There is a shield bearing entwined initials of 
gold, and some of the pieces show two characteristic birds. 
The most familiar style of decoration is that of the dark 
blue bands or dots or other figures, often overlaid with 
gold and often with coats of arms. 'I'his ware is a hard 
paste porcelain and is doubtless made and decorated in 
China. The fact that some of it bears the mark of “Allen 
Lowestoft” and that Mr. Allen was manager of the Lowe- 
stoft works at the time prove nothing beyond the fact that 
when the dealer sent his or- 
der to China to be filled, he 
ordered his name marked on 
the bottom. Small quanti- 
ties of undecorated ware 
mav have been brought from 
China and Holland to be 
painted, but we have no rec- 
ord of any such transaction. 
The duty was heavy and the 
amount of such ware im- 
ported must have been con- 
siderable. China is doing 
this same work for other 
countries, and it is reasonable 
to suppose that the managers 
of the Lowestoft factory sent 
the greater part of their 
orders to China to be filled 
by Chinese workmen upon 
their own material. 
It must be remembered 
that the English laws up to 
1800 placed a hca\y duty upon uiulecoratcd china when 
brought direct from Chinese ports, but none at all were 
imported from Holland. The proprietors of the works 
were also shipowners, conducting a small trade with 1 lol- 
land. I'hey exported b.nglish clay and raw materials for 
the use of the Delft potters, and brought back in return 
articles of Dutch faience often painted with names and in- 
scriptions, for which they accepted a commission from 
private customers. 
What our grandfathers used for their best “chaynie” was 
this very ornamental porcelain, which may be fouml to-day 
all through our country, although, like other wares except 
Staffordshire, it is m>t so common as in the interior towns. 
I.uxury was not characteristic of the early New I'ingland 
homes, yet there were those whose household goods 
would have seemed rich and elegant to-ilay when 
pretty and tasteful china, glass and silver come within the 
reach of so many, bilias 1 lasket Derby, of Salem, who 
died in 1805, was accounted one of New Englami’s wealthi- 
est merchants. His estate was estimatal at .$200,000, ami 
tile inventory is long and in- 
teresting. Among crowds of 
other liousehold “stuH” are 
mentioned two complete sets 
of china, one valued at $230 
and the other at $271. Yet, 
with all this luxury of china, 
he owned but eight silver 
s{)oons ! 
It was in the ships belong- 
ing to this same Elias II. 
Derby that crates of china 
were brought to Salem. I'Vorn 
New I lavcn went many a 
staunch vessel bearing 
boards from the friends and 
neighbors of the captain, 
and coming home laden with 
china and stuffs, drugs and 
rock candy, which were dis- 
tributed by means of Horid 
advertisements in the pa- 
pers, or by the milliners 
Massachusetts 
