We have a Staffordshire Pitcher with "THE BOSTON COMMON" in small print on the neck. The transfer is black. Measures 6 & 1/2" High and 8 & 3/4" wide (from tip of lip to handle). Partial mark on bottom of an S in the bottom left corner of what was probably a square with more info.
Pictures on both sides are of the Boston Common: the Brewer Fountain in center, sledding, goat cart, zoo?, cemetery, Liberty Tree, and zoo.
Cabbage rose pattern around the neck (and inside neck) and also on the outside part of the handle.
It's a wonderful round pitcher, but we cannot find anything about this one! Search for Boston Common online, and all you find are the State House Staffordshire, because there is a "view of the Boston Common" that is associated with that print.
We're really hoping that someone might have heard of this pattern, or maybe even has one??
Haven't taken any photos of the jug, but can do it, if needed.
Thank You!! k

I believe the Boston Common is the pattern name. Boston Common is a central Park in Boston,Mass. It's the oldest city park in the USA. Dates back to 1634. Staffordshire potteries made many item for Americans using American scenes. This park might of had a zoo and small animals. Transfer ware goes back to the late 1700rds. There is a website "history of Staffordshire transfer that can help you in dating your piece. Hope this help's you. Is it rare? Black transfer might be because it was not sold as much as the blue transferware. Another thing, your pitcher could be part of a dish set and might be a gravy boat which looks like pitchers back then, because of it's measurement's.

Thank you for your input! I'm in MA & have been to Boston many, many times! Yes, I knew about everything on the pitcher but the zoo.
I don't know, tho, about it being a gravy bost, as it's larger than any gravy boat I've seen, and such a round thing! Very heavy, also!
I'll try to take a few photos tomorrow & post them. Probably would have been better if I had done that before posting, huh?
But, have you ever heard of this pattern? I've been searching all the Staffordshire websites for months, and just about given up on finding anything!
Thanks again & pray I get some good images to show!
K

yes,Boston Common is the pattern name and later became Boston State House.I googled Staffordshire boston common pottery and then clicked on patriatic american boston state house and it showed plate and pitcher.Click on plate and you will get a page full of plates,pitchers,tea set's etc.with the Boston common along with other historical places. Some have animal's, people in small boat's etc. Most of it shown is blue transfer ware. Keep in mind that Staffordshire had hundred's of potteries plant's and the S and square could be the symbol of one of the plant's. There early ware is very heavy and lot's of reproduction's exist mostly blue.

I don't know, tho, about it getting a gravy bost, as it's beyond than any gravy baiter I've seen, and such a annular thing! Very heavy, too.

Ok,So maybe it's not a gravy Pitcher. It is a pitcher with a pour spout, it pour's something. Milk, cream, or water, anything that'a liquid. Back then I'm sure they used it for something liquid just as many of us do today. At Xmas time or any holiday when I have family I use a pyrex measuring cup with a spout for my gravy. Yes, they do make many thing's heavy even to this day. Try picking up your Gramma's old leaded glass pitcher full of milk.