Majolica in the Media: Poirot: "The Hollow"

The BBC television series Poirot is generally considered to be one of the most successful, and well cast, adaptations of the series featuring Agatha Christie's indomitable detective. Taking place in Great Britain it seemed inevitable that English majolica would eventually surface on the series. Well, in the ninth season of the series it did. And what a piece it is!

The episode, The Hollow, is based on the 1946 mystery novel of the same name. Like every other Agatha Christie story it concerns the usual abundance of suspicious characters trying to cover up a murder. Of course there are twists, turns and red herrings in the plot making the final resolution satisfying in classic Agatha Christie fashion. David Suchet plays Hercule Poirot in the series. The cast in this episode also includes well known film actors Sarah Miles and Edward Fox.

Of course the piece that I'm showcasing here is the fabulous George Jones majolica pitcher on the top shelf of the library.

George Jones majolica Chestnut Jug

One of the most sought after jugs in the whole George Jones pitcher catalog, the example in Poirot is most certainly one of the impressive larger sizes of the four known sizes the design came in, likely the 24 oz or 36 oz. 

To read a summery of the plot here is the link to Wikipedia’s page on the episode and here is the episode’s IMDb page.

The series is broadcast in the United States on PBS and is available on DVD and for streaming on BritBox. To view a short clip from the episode go here.

Thanks to the eagle eyed reader who pointed this out so I could share it.

The Majolica of Samuel Alcock & Co.

Samuel Alcock is known largely today for his finely detailed Staffordshire porcelain and earthenware pottery, parian and tea services, but the company in its final years also manufactured majolica. Alcock majolica has a distinctive look with its limited palette of brightly colored glazes, but unlike the decorated porcelain and earthenware produced during the pottery’s lifetime little has been written about their majolica work.

Samuel Alcock majolica platter

Samuel Alcock was born into a rural farm family in Kingsley, Staffordshire England in the first half of 1799, the child of Thomas Alcock and Katherine Locker (exact birth date unknown). On June 21, 1823 he met and married Elizabeth Haslehurst (1800-1879) who would, in later years, take a prominent position in his pottery business. Like Eliza Wardle after her, Elizabeth Alcock would become one of the unrecognized female innovators of Victorian majolica.

At the age of twenty-five Samuel joined the firm of Stevenson & Williams in Cobridge, operated by the two Stevenson brothers, Ralph and Andrew, and Augustus Williams. Within the year the firm changed its name to Stevenson, Alcock & Williams. By 1826 the partnership fractured with Andrew Stevenson and Augustus Williams leaving the business and Ralph Stevenson partnering with Alcock at the new firm of Samuel Alcock & Co.

London Gazette, 1st May 1827

 London Gazette, 16th August 1831

Alcock & Co. proved wildly successful. Within two years Alcock rented the Hill Top pottery in Burslem. Alcock then purchased Hill Top from the owner two years later. In 1831 Ralph Stevenson left Alcock and opened Stevenson & Son. In 1839 Alcock expanded and rebuilt the Hill Top pottery in the Venetian style shown here.

Hill Top pottery, later renamed the Hill pottery

Hill Top pottery

Hill Top pottery

Hill Top front entrance

For the next seventeen years Alcock produced some of the finest porcelain and earthenware in the country along with a wide range of beautiful decorative and utilitarian ware like the pieces shown below. Pattern books also have survived for many of Alcock's wares. A large firm, it employed 600-700 workers.

Alcock porcelain side tray

Gilded hand painted porcelain Alcock charger

Alcock catalog pattern page

Alcock catalog pattern page

Alcock catalog pattern page

Alcock Staffordshire poolle

Alcock parian dogs

Alcock vase in the Neoclassical style

Alcock Portland vase

Alcock Royal Patriotic jug to benefit widows and orphans of 

soldiers killed during the Crimea War c.1855

Mark on the base of the Patriotic jug above

Alcock Love & War relief molded jug

After a prolific career and twelve children, Samuel Alcock died at the age of 49 years old on November 10, 1848, in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, leaving the management of the pottery to his widow Elizabeth and two of his sons, Samuel Jr. (1826-1883) and Thomas (1829-1883). It was after Samuel Alcock Sr.’s death that the company began production of majolica. 

A new style of pottery just introduced by Minton in 1851, it is not known precisely when Elizabeth Alcock brought her company into the majolica market. Marketed as ROYAL PALISSY, the company made a limited line of designs in the new Minton majolica style, many in imitation of Minton’s Palissy designs.*

Probably the most famous of Alcock's majolica pieces is the Palissy inspired frog and snake pitcher below.

Alcock majolica pitcher

Some designs were adaptations of Wedgwood and other pottery’s patterns while others were original to Alcock.

Alcock grape and vine plate

Alcock majolica grape and vine platter

Alcock majolica hunt jug

Alcock majolica vine jug

Alcock majolica begonia shallow bowl

Alcock majolica begonia cake plate

Alcock majolica tazza

Alcock majolica plate

The pottery operated under the supervision of Elizabeth Alcock and her sons until 1859 when it declared bankruptcy. The following year the Top Hill pottery was taken over by Sir Jame Duke & Nephews. James Duke is known to have also potted majolica, displaying both majolica and Palissy ware at the 1862 London Exhibition. It is likely they continued using the Alcock molds. Some pieces of Alcock style majolica from these molds may possibly be attributable to them but since Sir James Duke & Nephews didn’t mark their work there’s no way of knowing. Duke & Nephews remained in business for three years before closing in 1863.

S.A.&Co. bankruptcy notice, the London Gazette, October 14, 1859

A contemporary description of Sir Duke’s exhibit at the 1862 London Exhibition

Alcock’s majolica line is small and not always marked but, as stated earlier, the Alcock majolica style is unmistakable. When marked, Alcock majolica shows an impressed mark of a bee skep surrounded by bees with SA&CO either below it or S.Alcock & Co. in an arch above it. The mark sometimes includes the words ROYAL PALISSY in a semi-circle above the bee skep. I have not seen an ink mark on their majolica.

Samuel Alcock Royal Palissy mark

S. Alcock & Co. mark

Alcock was an early adopter of the new Minton majolica process, and since the company closed eight years after its introduction it had a short production life. Quality varies from exceptional to adequate. It is relatively rare and tends to attract a premium price for exceptional marked examples.

*At the time of its introduction in 1851, the process we now refer to as Victorian majolica was initially called Palissy ware. For clarification go here.