Dear Histarchers,
 
I had a look at Susan Piddock's ceramic shard with the black transferware
bear (shows head, the bear wears a coat, white shirt and old style tie of
sorts). I wonder what others interested in ceramics would think.
illustrated on:
 
http://adminwww.flinders.edu.au/Archaeology/Anson_Ceramic.html
 
Apart from ceramic books, I checked some illustrated antique price guides -
good for unusual objects - without luck; then tried various trade
catalogues. I noticed in the 'Montgomery, Ward & Co', No 57, reprint
catalogue (USA) of 1895, a tiny picture of a plate featuring the nursery
rhyme 'Hey diddle diddle' - showing a cat playing a fiddle..... So perhaps
the shard could have been part of such a plate?
 
Another possibility could an illustrated pot lid (medicines, creams,tooth
powder). Some lids have rounded tops, some have flat tops. Black transfer
patterns are common on such lids. Checked the literature on Australian lids
but don't have anything on the USA and Britain.
 
Best Wishes,
 
Robert
 
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