Pearlware Prattware Watch Stand with Original Pottery Watch

A Georgian Prattware pottery watch stand flanked by a young couple with its original pottery watch. It has with embossed and painted decoration,                                                In our 57 years in business this is the only watch stand that we have ever seen complete with its original watch. So, this is definitely a rare piece!

The watch stand was made by “Dixon Austin & Co.” in Sunderland located in North East England, circa 1820-1826. It would have been found in the home of a man of means. When the man of the house got dressed in the morning he would remove his pocket watch from the stand and replace it with the pottery watch you see here. When he returned at night he would remove the pottery watch and replace it with his own.

For an image and description see p.216 , Ill 910, in Creamware and other English Pottery at Temple Newsam House, Leeds, by Peter Walton where the author states “In the form of a long-case clock provided with an aperture for the face of the watch. On one side stands a small girl and on the other a boy… Painted in blue, green, yellow, orange, and brown.”

This watch stand is decorated with traditional Pratt colors of underglaze yellow, orange, green, ochre, and blue. Any collection of early 19th century English pottery would be enhanced by this piece.

Dimensions: H 11 in. x W 7 in. x D 2.75 in.

Condition: Excellent. Tiny edge frits to the base.

Price: $500

References: A similar watch stand is illustrated in Sunderland Museum and Art Gallery, Sunderland Ware, 1973, pl.24.                                                                                                             An image and description can also be found in English Earthenware Figures 1740-1840 by Pat Halfpenny, on page 123.  Also, see Griselda Lewis’s Prattware, page 237.