The lid features a scene in the village square with musicians playing and men and women dancing. There are thatch roof homes visible in the background and jugs of wine and baskets of food in the foreground. We unconditionally guarantee this Prattware type Pot Lid to be original and of the mid 19th century period.

    In the 19th century, the Pratt name was associated with the fine, usually multi-coloured, transfer printed engravings used to decorate the lids of earthenware pots used for food, pharmaceutical products and toiletries. Whilst Felix Pratt was the commercial driving force behind the business, the artist was a Jesse Austin who joined Pratt in the early-1840. He was an accomplished watercolor artist and engraver and over nearly 40 years, the business produced over 550 poly chrome prints used to decorate the now well known pot lids. Pratt’s first under-glaze, polychrome pot lid was made in 1847 and was a scene ‘Grace before Meals’. Austin’s subject included royalty, famous people, city scenes – there are eleven views of London – and this portrayal of the life and times of Victorian England is one of the reasons for the lid’s popularity today. Austin also made miniature watercolor copies of famous paintings and these too appear on pot lids and Prattware. Collecting the Pratt polychrome pot lids became very fashionable in the 1920s and the interest has continued to the present day. Hundreds of thousands were manufactured, but of those that remain the majority are in poor or indifferent condition. Undamaged pot lids with crisp, clear prints are now rarely seen and are expensive.

    This wonderful and original, mid-19th century Prattware Pot Lid is in very good condition - clean and crisp and beautiful. The colors are bright and vibrant while the white pottery ground exhibits age appropriate toning. There is no significant surface crazing and wear to the surface. There is a tiny chip on the rim at the back but otherwise there are no chips, cracks, crazing, repairs or damage of any kind.

     A very rare and very beautiful, 1850's Prattware Polychrome Pot Lid and a fantastic addition to any collection!!