IT jumps off the author’s introductory page: “To identify and find more information about the character known as Orange Jumper.” Chapter 7 – Jumper Jugs tells all.
Considered perhaps the best known of the Yorkshire pots made at the Don Pottery, two characters are named on these jugs. One is Orange Jumper, the nickname of a “rascally” Leeds horsebreaker whose real name was John Clarkson and the other is Viscount Milton. Although these two men were totally remote from each other in class, occupation and behaviour, Jumper was the Viscount’s most ardent supporter in his successful election campaign of 1807.
This book is the story of one of Yorkshire’s largest potteries, employing 300 people at one time making high quality ceramic wares, a pottery that was established in 1801 by John Green, and located at the centre of an all-important canal network which gave the factory ready access to the export-trade routes to Russia, Scandinavia, Continental Europe, the Middle East and South America.
Mr Griffin first began collecting and researching the potteries of Yorkshire 40 years ago and his exhaustive research is the story of two families, first the Greens and then the Barkers, who ran the Don Pottery for most of the 19th century. There is much family history here but chapter three discusses the identification of Don pottery; the marks having been adopted by these works being but few. Chapters include creamware, pearlware, fine white earthenware and special glazes and the only copy of the pottery’s design book is reproduced in full. The book reveals a greatly extended range of wares produced by the Greens which may surprise those who had only been aware of the blue and white transfer printed patterns, the daisy jugs and the sought after Jumper jugs.
Like Belfast’s Lagan Pottery, there are pieces out there waiting to be discovered. A book as much for lovers of the history of South Yorkshire and its industrial heritage as for collectors of ceramics’ books on the “old collectables”. Visit the Doncaster Museum to see the largest public collection of Don pottery, some 120 pieces.
The Don Pottery
The Don Pottery 1801-1893 by John D. Griffin, published by the Doncaster Museum Service and available from them at the Directorate of Education and Culture, Chequer Road, Doncaster DN1 2AE. Tel: 01302 734293 email: museum@doncaster.gov.uk ISBN 0903524295. £35 (£30 plus £5 p&p).
