A large and impressive Mid 19th Century Antique English Victorian Ironstone Leech Jar and Cover, decorated in the "Cleopatra" pattern, by Francis Morley & Co. of Shelton, Staffordshire, almost certainly produced from earlier Mason's moulds. According to Geoffrey Godden, { Godden's Guide to Ironstone, Stone and Granite Wares }, Francis Morley, who married the daughter of William Ridgway, acquired the Mason copper plates, moulds, and seemingly the right to use the description and marks, "Mason's Ironstone China", by private purchase, perhaps prior to the April 1848 auction sale of the whole stock of Mason's "Fixtures, Utensils, Stock etc. belonging to the Estate of Mr. C.J. Mason". The underside clearly marked in underglaze blue with the pattern name, "Cleopatra", and the upper case letter F, together with the pattern number 3/1504 in underglaze red in third series fractional form.
Height ~ 15.00 inches ~ Width ~ 10.50 inches ~ Depth ~ 9.00 inches ~ Year ~ Circa 1850
