Pitcher, printed in brown. F. Winkle & Co. printed maker's mark and the lack of "England" dates this pattern to c. 1890. The style of this floral pattern looks like a bridge between the Aesthetic Movement and Art Nouveau. The latter movement only lasted from roughly 1890 to 1910, but was characterized by long, sinuous, organic lines and a focus on the natural world. The "Alton" pattern fits this definition neatly. It consists of an alternating row of sinuous large and small tulips, interspersed with groupings of daisy blooms and stylized flowers on stems.

A business between Winkle and Wood started in 1885 at the Pearl Pottery in Hanley. In 1888 Winkle and Wood jointly opened the purpose built Colonial Pottery Works in Whieldon Road on the border of Stoke and Fenton. In 1890 F. Winkle continued on his own at the Colonial Pottery and Wood continued at the Pearl Pottery works in Hanley. In the early 1900s the business was owned by the Hewitt Brothers - William and Joseph - who were later also the owners of Barker Bros. in Longton The business continued under the name F. Winkle & Co. Ltd.