EARLY 19TH CENTURY, PROBABLY PONTYPOOL

The Stormont pattern found on the reserves of the present lot is associated with early 19th century Pontypool ware (see Yvonne Jones, Japanned Papier Mâché and Tinware C.1740-1940, Woodbridge, Suffolk, pp. 69, 275, fig. 59, 309). The motif originated in French wallpaper and was later adapted for English marble paper. The design, which was less challenging to produce than other decorative patterns, was introduced by William Allgood as a way to compete with factories in rival production centres, such as Birmingham, and referred to colloquially as 'mapwork'.