Wedgwood Creamware Hummingbird Butterfly & Flowers Pattern, No. 7961

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Victorian Exoticism: Wedgwood 'Hummingbird & Flowers' Creamware Plates
1868

This is an enchanting set of three antique Wedgwood Creamware Plates, … Read more Victorian Exoticism: Wedgwood 'Hummingbird & Flowers' Creamware Plates
1868

This is an enchanting set of three antique Wedgwood Creamware Plates, decorated in the highly desirable "Hummingbird & Flowers" pattern (Pattern No. 7961). Dating from the mid-Victorian era, the plates exemplify the period's fascination with exotic natural history.

Each plate serves as a canvas for a delicately rendered, hand-painted scene:

Subject: The central wells feature brilliantly colored hummingbirds, painted in dynamic poses either perched on delicate branches or hovering near brightly colored flowers. One plate is unique in depicting two hummingbirds. The scenes include varied groupings of flowering plants, or botanical specimens, that are scattered lightly across the creamware ground.

Palette & Finish: The decoration uses a vibrant polychrome palette that contrasts beautifully with the pale yellow-tinted Creamware body (a highly successful earthenware body that Josiah Wedgwood introduced in the 18th century). The rim of each plate is finished with a simple, elegant gilt band.

Marks: The reverse side provides excellent dating information:
Impressed: "WEDGWOOD" and the date code "A2W".
Painted: Pattern number "7961" and the decorator's or tally number "2".

Manufacturer: Wedgwood (Etruria Works, Staffordshire, England)
Pattern: Hummingbird & Flowers (No. 7961)
Date: circa 1868 (The impressed date code "W" indicates the year 1868 in the first dating cycle, which began in 1860).

Dimensions: 8 1/4 inches diameter x 3/4 inches high (20.96cm x 1.91cm high).

Historical Context: Nature and the Victorian Age
This set of plates captures the unique tastes of the mid-Victorian period, combining botanical science with decorative arts.

Exotic Naturalism
The 19th century witnessed a global enthusiasm for natural history, driven by exploration and scientific publications. Hummingbirds, non-native to England, were a symbol of exotic lands and a popular motif, frequently appearing in decorative arts alongside illustrations of rare flora. This pattern's vibrant, naturalistic style places it within the broader trend that led to the later Aesthetic Movement (c. 1870s), which celebrated beauty and natural forms.

Wedgwood Dating Code
The impressed three-letter code (A2W) is key to dating. Beginning in 1860, Wedgwood adopted a dating system where the final letter indicates the year of manufacture. The letter 'W' corresponds to the year 1868, confirming the plates' mid-Victorian production. The hand-painted pattern number '7961' identifies the exact design used for the enamel painting.

Although Wedgwood is famed for its Jasperware, their continued production of high-quality Creamware and its variations allowed for the rich hand-painted effects seen on these charming plates, designed for use in a decorative dessert or luncheon service.

References
Schiffer, Nancy. Wedgwood Marks and Dating. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. (Standard reference for the impressed three-letter dating code system beginning in 1860, confirming 'W' = 1868).

Reilly, Robin. Wedgwood: The New Illustrated Dictionary. Antique Collectors' Club, 1995. (Definitive guide to Wedgwood history and pattern numbers).

(Ref: NY10178-xirp) See less