Wheat Pattern

Wheat Pattern

• Type: Ironstone
• Date Range: c.1848-present
• Peak: c. 1860-1900
• Place of origin: England, Scotland, Canada, France, United States (?)

This popular pattern is found on vessels with a "partially vitrified white earthenware body," which is generally called ironstone or white granite. This moulded grain motif combines heads of grain with grass-like leaves.

The first raised grain pattern was a pitcher registered by Minton and Company in 1848.The pattern was called "Ceres" in the earlier period, and later, after 1878, it was referred to as "Wheat".

The earliest forms were jugs and pitchers, associated with barley and hops (for beer). In 1853, the pattern was applied to other vessel forms, including tureens, tablewares, and toiletwares.

There were numerous variations developed by different manufacturers, based on the other elements added (such as a rope motif, clover, roses, or daisies), and the number of rows of wheat, or the style of the leaves.

See also Ironstone.

See Sussman 1985

Photo: Wheat pattern sherds