While some examples of  Masons "Peacock" pattern feature a pair of birds, on this rar...

While some examples of  Masons "Peacock" pattern feature a pair of birds, on this rare soap dish a single fellow is  allowed to preen as "cock of the lid" and incidentally of the liner as well. Given the whimsical design (is that a smile on his beak?) and the jaunty brush stroke execution, he seems anything but lonely.

Typical of the spontaniety always present in Mason's Japan patterns, decoration starts with daubs of blue--dark cobalt and a lighter shade--knit together with quick red strokes from the artist's brush.  The whole scheme revolves around the peacock who seems about to light amidst a tumble of  blossoms in which peach tones are added as accents to the red and blues. The border treatment on the sides of the lid and base serves to pull together and frame the composition. Here more freely drawn flowers appear over alternating fields of blue and white--an approximation of the alternating border reserves of  more snooty formal patterns. 

If you can not handle this level of  vigor and impulsive energy,  perhaps this pattern is not for you.

Seekers Antiques has known this pattern by a variety of names over the years, most frequen...

Seekers Antiques has known this pattern by a variety of names over the years, most frequently labelled either "Phoenix," or "Golden Phoenix." The only published reference we had was an unidentified illustration in one of Godden's books on Mason's Ironstone. A recent review of the 2003 auction listing of the collection of the late Valerie Howard, prominent Masons dealer from London, however, uncovered two pieces identified as "Peacock." Assuming that these pieces were identified by Ms. Howard -- and not the auction house -- we are now using "Peacock" as the pattern name.

A platter and lozenge shape dessert dish in Mason's "Peacock" are available and listed separately on this site.