Bowl, 9.5 x 6.25 inches. Black transfer. Printed and impressed maker's marks for William Brownfield & Son. The impressed '81' indicates a manufacture date of 1881. This quatrefoil bowl features a three-part pattern from top to bottom. The top features an irregular shape and two overlapping rings. The shape is filled with the Japanese pattern called Seven Treasures or shippo. In Buddhism, shippo represents the unending chain of expansion of harmony and peace. The seven treasures are gold, silver, aquamarine, crystal, white coral, ruby, and emerald. Overlaying this pattern are two partial cartouches: one round and the other capsule. Both cartouches feature blooming and grass-like foliage. The bottom of the pattern is a group of foliage that follows the curve of the bowl and depicts blooms on branches and grass, including prunus blossoms. The top and bottom frame the middle scene of two songbirds in flight.

The Brownfields were potters in Cobridge, North Staffordshire from about 1837 to the 1890s. William Brownfield began as a junior partner in the firm of Robinson, Wood & Brownfield, at a pottery formerly owned by Ralph & James Clews. Eventually William Brownfield appears to be the sole owner, the first reference appearing in White’s 1851 directory where we find under china and earthenware manufacturers, Brownfield Wm. Cobridge. The factory produced a range of earthenware, stone china and added stoneware and parian to their productions. In the International Exhibition of 1862 they were awarded a medal for “printed earthenware” but no details are given of the patterns. Entries at other International exhibitions followed. In 1871 William Etches Brownfield entered the business and it became William Brownfield & Son. William Sr. died in 1873 and William Jr. continued and his brother Edward Arthur Brownfield joined the firm. They continued to make a wide range of ceramics with occasional tour de force pieces for national and international exhibition, becoming one of the top ten Staffordshire factories. The company’s last swansong was an unusual venture fostered by Arthur Edward Brownfield, who in 1892 created a Potter’s Guild based on John Ruskin’s principles. But this “cooperative” was unfortunately destined to failure and the company was wound up in 1900.