The Majolica of William Brownfield & Sons

William Brownfield entered the pottery trade in 1836 when he partnered with Noah Robinson and and John Wood to take over the Cobridge Pottery. In 1841 The Robinson family left the pottery leaving the firm to identify itself as Wood & Brownfield. In 1850 Wood retired and the pottery was named simply Brownfield. The company was a large one employing over 450 employees.

William Brownfield 1812-1873

Brownfield & Sons location at the Cobridge works outlined in red

In 1871 Brownfield exhibited his first majolica wares and brought his son William E. into the firm to become Brownfield & Son. William Brownfield died in 1873 leaving the pottery to the care of his son. In 1876 another son joined the pottery and three years later the third son joined forming Brownfield & Sons. The company continued to grow to over 600 employees through the 1880s.

Brownfield display at the1881 World Exhibition in Melbourne, Australia

Brownfield ad from May 1876

Engraving from The Ceramic Art of Great Britain (1878)

Brownfield ad January 1, 1881

Brownfield majolica ad December 1881

Brownfield ad 1906

Brownfield first exhibited majolica at the 1871 London Exhibition. Initial majolica examples include designs registered earlier and made in other bodies. 

Brownfield registered design

Brownfield majolica Chestnut cheese bell

The company worked with many of the finest modelers in the industry like Carrier-Belluse and Hughs Protât, making some of the company's work the equal of Minton.

Brownfield Face and Pigtail majolica teapot

Brownfield majolica Man and Gourd teapot

The Isle of Man teapots were a specialty order for retailer W. Broughton

Brownfield majolica Fish teapot

Brownfield majolica Cone teapot

Brownfield  catalog Cat and Globe Ornament, first shown in Philadelphia 1976

Brownfield majolica Cat and Grove Ornament, missing the box finial

Brownfield majolica Kittens vase. Also made as a triple flower stand (below)

Brownfield majolica fountain c.1883

Much of Brownfield majolica has a distinctive look because of the pale ochre body used by the company and also because of many of the colored glazes used which had a different character from other majolica made during this time. Interiors were often left with clear glazes that highlight the color of the body or Persian blue/cyan instead of the pink which was more common. The thick glazes used were also often opaque or translucent as opposed to the transparent glazes used by other potteries. The color combination of green, deep cadmium yellow, brown and cyan was common among Brownfield pieces along with a very deep navy, and opaque pale canary yellow that were unique to the ware. 

The similarity between the many rustic pieces created by the company implies a specialty line created and most likely marketed under a unique brand name within the company’s oeuvre.

The craftsmanship is also usually excellent putting it equal to the finest manufacturers. Designs were often copied from other manufacturers but with the distinct Brownfield glazes they took on a different character.

Attributed to Brownfield.  A variation of a Copeland design.

Brownfield Hampton majolica jug

Majolica jug attributed to Brownfield, 

a copy of a Ridgeway & Co. design

Figures often had skin tones covered with a clear glaze allowing the pale ochre body to show through.

Brownfield majolica Mama and Papa figures 

first shown in Philadelphia, 1876

Of course the company made special use platters and garden seats like other potteries. 

Brownfield majolica motto bread tray

Brownfield used several different marks in the course of their history to designate their ware but the two below are the most commonly found on majolica ware. Ink marks, which were common on other bodies, were not used.

The company was dissolved in 1892 and reorganized as the Brownfield Guild Pottery and then again in 1897 as the Brownfield Pottery Ltd. but neither was a success.The company was sold in 1900 and demolished two years later. The Myott pottery was later built on the ground occupied by the Brownfield pottery.

William Brownfield tombstone, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent

William Brownfield tombstone