Plate, 8 inches diameter. Brown transfer. Printed maker's mark for Baker & Co. This pattern was registered on 10 November 1882 by Pratt & Simpson and continued by Wallis Gimson & Co. and Baker & Co. The pattern consists of a branch of ripe pomegranates behind a medallion with the profile bust of Epimetheus with his name written in both English and Greek. In ancient Greek mythology, Epimetheus was the Titan god of afterthought and excuses. He and his brother Prometheus were given the task of populating the earth with animals and men. Below and to the left is a flowering branch and to the right are two round cartouches with geometric infill.

Pratt & Simpson, the originator of the “Pandora” patterns, was a partnership between John Pratt and Joseph Simpson. They operated at the Lane Delph Pottery in Fenton between 1878 and 1882. At some point John Pratt retired and Joseph Gimson joined the business, which continued on as Pratt & Simpson. Joseph Gimson had been listed as the Chairman of the Members of John Pratt & Co. Ltd., which had operated in the Lane Delph Pottery prior to the Pratt & Simpson partnership.

On 9 March 1882 the partnership between Joseph Simpson and Joseph Gimson, operating as Pratt & Simpson, was dissolved and the business was carried on by Joseph Gimson. It would seem Joseph Gimson took Thomas Wallis Gimson on as a partner sometime after 1882 and they operated as Wallis Gimson & Co. at the Lane Delph Pottery. At some point between 1882 and 1888, Joseph Gimson Jr. took over his father’s role in Wallis Gimson & Co. and on 15 February 1888 their partnership was dissolved. On 7 March 1890 Wallis Gimson & Co. declared bankruptcy.

The firm of William Baker & Co. had its roots as far back as 1790, but it did not operate under the name “William Baker & Co.” until 1839, when William Baker began running the business alone. After 1868, it seems that “William” was dropped from the name and the pottery continued on as Baker & Co. with a variety of partners. At some point between 1888 and 1893, Joseph Gimson joined Baker & Co. as a partner. On 29 September 1893 the partnership between Joseph Gimson, William Edward Challinor, and Thomas Jones, operating as Baker & Co., was dissolved and the firm continued on as Baker & Co. Ltd.