Q: I recently purchased at auction a beautiful T & R Boote Lahore Registered plate. I’ve been able to find a few that have the underglaze hand painting and they date from 1880 to 1884. However, I can find none that have a children’s scene in the center of the plate. The diamond-shaped mark has Roman numeral “IV” at the top and below that the number “7”. The letter “J,” “C,” and “8” are in the corners. I’d love to know a more accurate date.

 

A: Thomas Latham Boote and Richard Boote founded their pottery in Burslem, England, in 1842. T & R Boote made earthenware, ironstone, and parian ware. The company began making pavement tiles in 1865. Tiles became the major part of the business in 1906. Richards Tiles took over T & R Boote in 1963. Lahore is the pattern name. It was made in several color variations without a flowery design in the middle. The diamond-shaped mark is the English design registry mark. The Roman numeral indicates the type of material (ceramic), “7” is the day of the month, “J” the year — 1880, “C” the month — January, and “8” is the parcel number. The design on your plate was registered January 7, 1880. The company made plates with your border and many different designs in the center.

 

One response to “T & R Boote”

  1. Babycatcher says:

    I believe the illustration on the plate is either by or styled after Kate Greenaway. She was a contemporary of Beatrix Potter. It was said the BP could not draw people, and KG could not do animals! How funny!

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