Details
This antique, 100+ year old beauty is an Aller Vale Torquay Motto Ware pitcher featuring the classic Kerswell Daisy floral pattern and hand-inscribed with a traditional saying.
It’s in very good condition with no chips, vibrant color and a maker’s mark on its base. It has character crazing which attests to its age.
It measures approximately 6.25” from outside handle to spout tip and stands 6.8” tall.
The motto on the front of this pitcher reads, “Little duties still put off, will end in never done. By and by is soon enough, has ruined many a one.” It came from a popular 19th century children’s poem titled, “ I’ll put it off”. This motto dates this pitcher between 1895 and 1902.
It was made in Devon, England during the height of the Aller Vale Pottery Art pottery period. Its Kerswell Daisy pattern was introduced during Aller Vale’s early artistic phase under John Phillips. Pieces stamped “Aller Vale” or “Aller Vale England” without late 20th century additions usually indicate a turn-of-the-century antique piece before mass productions changed this stamp.
The text on the front of this pitcher was scratched through a layer of colored slip to reveal the clay underneath (a technique called Sgraffito). This specific, neat handwriting style combined with a longer rhyme was the signature work of Aller Vale’s decorators from 1895 to 1902.
This is a beautiful collectible piece that has survived over 100 years.
NOTE: please read the full description and view all photos and measurements as we want to meet your expectations. I’m happy to answer any questions prior to purchase as all sales are final. Thank you for visiting the Dade City Wild Fern.