Few transferware patterns intended for the table rather than display give the diner as much interesting detail as Wedgwood's "Ferrara." All pieces feature an Italian harbor dominated by tall ships being loaded or unloaded by busy laborers. The imposing structure on the left is the castle of the Este family in Ferrara, an element that anchors an otherwise imagined scene to a specific location. Versions of the scene are expanded or contracted--both in scale and detail--to fit various pieces of the dinner or tea service.

Robin Reilly tells us that the scene is pieced together from at least three source prints with the shipping section, in fact, lifted from a series entitled Lancashire Illustrated (Wedgwood: The New Illustrated Dictionary, p.159).

The border departs from the urban coastline for a dense field of wildflowers that is more suggestive of a richly blossoming forest floor.

The "Ferrara" pattern was clearly a success for Wedgwood--introduced in 1832,  produced for a long period, re-introduced mid-twentieth century, and even adapted to adorn a liqueur bottle. Current Seekers offerings all feature brown transfer printing and date from the third quarter of the nineteenth century.

Given the quantity and duration of production, variation in printing tone and intensity can be expected. We will be glad to make selections for best color matches.   

Complete list of  "Ferrara" currently available: 

Platters 

TCR14 -- 8 1/4 in. Length ---- $155 each (two available; photos on request)  

TCR12 --14 1/2 in. Length -- $225.00 (one available; chip to underside of rim) 

TCR11 --16 1/2 in. Length -- $295.00 each (three available; listed separately) 

Plates 

TCL82 --9 1/4 in. Diameter -- $65.00 each (Two available; priced separately)