The Piece

A late 19th-century Flow Blue porcelain dish, dating to circa 1880–1900, distinguished by its softly scalloped form, deep cobalt decoration, and naturally blurred pigment characteristic of true Flow Blue ware. The dish bears a handwritten paper label on the reverse reading “Mottled Ring – Real Grandmother – Annie & Erik”, along with a later typed provenance tag noting “Flow Blue dish of Jim Lum’s great grandmother.”

The front presents a classic Flow Blue aesthetic: a luminous white ground washed with saturated cobalt motifs that gently bleed into the glaze, forming organic transitions rather than crisp edges. Floral medallions and scrolling border work encircle the well, while the surface exhibits fine, even crazing developed over more than a century of age.

Viewed today, the piece reads as both decorative artifact and intimate domestic object—an heirloom dish that carries not only the visual language of Victorian ceramics, but the quiet weight of family history.

Design & Construction

→ Form & Style

Late Victorian English ceramic design, defined by:

• Scalloped rim with molded relief
• Deep cobalt Flow Blue decoration with intentional pigment diffusion
• Floral and foliate motifs arranged in a radial composition
• Shallow well typical of serving or display dishes
• Natural glaze crazing consistent with age
• Handwritten and typed provenance labels affixed to reverse

The form balances ornament with softness, allowing the color movement to remain the focal point.

→ Materials

• Earthenware or semi-porcelain body typical of Flow Blue production
• Cobalt oxide decoration applied under glaze
• Clear glaze with age-appropriate crazing
• Paper provenance labels affixed post-production

→ Technique

• Transfer-printed cobalt decoration
• “Flow” firing process allowing pigment to blur into the glaze
• High-temperature kiln firing resulting in tonal variation
• Molded rim detailing formed prior to glazing

The flowing effect—often imitated but rarely replicated—is the defining hallmark of authentic 19th-century Flow Blue.

History & Provenance

Flow Blue ceramics emerged in mid-19th-century England, reaching peak popularity between 1870 and 1900. Originally an accidental firing result, the blurred cobalt effect became highly desirable, particularly in British and American households seeking decorative tableware that felt refined yet expressive.

This example retains documented family provenance, noted directly on the reverse. Such annotations, while not factory marks, are valued by collectors for preserving the object’s domestic lineage—evidence that the piece functioned as part of everyday life rather than remaining purely ornamental.

Condition

Very good antique condition, featuring:

• Intact body with no visible cracks or structural repairs
• Even glaze crazing consistent with age
• Strong cobalt coloration with desirable flow
• Light surface wear appropriate to use and time
• Original provenance labels retained on reverse

The condition supports both display and careful decorative use.

Product Details

Item
Antique Flow Blue Porcelain Dish

Date
Circa 1880–1900

Origin
England

Materials
Glazed ceramic with cobalt decoration

Style
Victorian / Flow Blue

Condition
Very good antique condition

Color
Cobalt blue and white

Use
Decorative display, shelf styling, cabinet piece

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This dish offers more than pattern—it offers history you can feel. The depth of the cobalt, the softness of the flow, and the preserved provenance transform it from decorative ceramic into a lived object with continuity.

It offers:

→ authentic 19th-century Flow Blue character
→ rich, painterly cobalt movement
→ visible age and material honesty
→ documented family lineage
→ timeless versatility for modern interiors

A quiet heirloom piece—meant to be appreciated up close, not rushed past.