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Flow blue was a type of transfer pottery produced by Staffordshire, England, potters beginning in about 1820. Sold mostly in the U.S. market, flow blue was similar to traditional blue-and-white pottery, except that the blue color was deliberately blurred, an effect achieved by adding a cup of lime or ammonia to the kiln during glazing.

English manufacturers of antique flow blue included Wedgwood, Johnson Brothers, Minton, Royal Doulton, and Swansea. Patterns ranged from Blue Danube to Idris to the classic Willow. As for the objects themselves, they included toilet wares and teapots, plates and platters, vases and garden seats, and even dog bowls...

One interesting subset of flow blue is the blue-marble effect. All-over patterns such as Lazuli lent itself to this look: When given the flow-blue treatment, the pattern would blur so that from afar the object resembled a piece of carved, blue-veined marble.

By World War I, U.S. potteries were producing most of the flow blue for the domestic market, causing English potters to exit the business, which had never been popular in the U.K. to begin with. The desirability of the ware waned in both countries between the wars, but interest picked up again in the U.S. in the 1960s. Because large amounts of 19th-century flow blue had been shipped to, or manufactured in, the U.S., flow blue remains fairly reasonable to collect.

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11 Antique Flow Blue Cauldon Turkey Dinner Plates England SetAntique Moorcroft Macintyre,aurelian Ware, Flow Blue VaseAntique Flow Blue Orange Ground PlatterFlow Blue Pansy Warwick China Chocolate Cup & SaucerAntique Flow Blue Doulton Geneva Pattern PlatterWonderful Antique Inky Flow Blue And White ToastrackRare Antique Primitive Flow Blue Porcelain Creamer Pitcher Teardrop Leaf Pattern 6 Piece Lot Maddock Dainty Pattern Flow Blue 8 Inch Plates NiceAntique Flow Blue Gaudy Welsh Jug, Unusual Shape, C 1850Antique Flow Blue Gaudy Welsh Jug, Octagon Shape, C 1850Antique 1906 Royal Doulton Portland Me Landmark Masonic Lodge Flow Blue Pitcher 3 Piece Lot Maddock Dainty Pattern Flow Blue 9 1/2 Inch Plates Nice1880 Flow Blue Doulton Figural Norfolk Banquet Oil Lamp Flow Blue 4 Piece Sauce Tureen (or Boat) *middleport Pottery Burslem BurleighAntique 19thct Flow Blue Platter Strawberry Pattern No Reserve19c Gaudy Dutch Flow Blue Carnation Cup & SaucerLarge Antique Henry Alcock & Co England Flow Blue Gilt Platter Touraine PatternAntique Wedgwood Flow Blue 10" Plate - Cows - England - Good Condition! Antique Royal Bayreuth Porcelain,flow Blue,children In Wood Scene Pitcher 2 Piece Lot Maddock Dainty Pattern Flow Blue 8 Inch Bowls NiceAntique Rare Heavy Flow Blue Vegtable Butter Strainer Insert Flying Birds FlowerAntique Flow Blue Copper Lustre Square Seashell Porcelain Platter Plate TrayFlow Blue Allertons England Mabel Oval DishWood & Son 1890s Keswick Flow Blue Vegetable Bowl - England19c Staffordshire Riley's Semi China Flow Blue Plate 9" C18405 Alcock Staffordshire Flow Blue Touraine Salad Plates 8" C188519c Gaudy Dutch Flow Blue Single Rose Cup & SaucerVintage Keeling & Co Cavendish Pitcher Large Losol Ware Flow Blue Burslem1891+ Antique Wh Grindley Staffordshire Flow Blue "marie" Pattern Plate19c Gaudy Dutch Flow Blue Grape Bread PlateW.h.grindley Florida Flow Blue Sauce Boat & Dish.4 Alcock Staffordshire Flow Blue Touraine Cups & Saucers C1885Antique Memphis Tenn Flow Blue Rowland Marsellus Staffordshire Souvenir Plate NrStunning Flow Blue 15" China Platter- La Francaise PatternStunning Flow Blue China - Gravy Boat With Underplate - La Francaise Pattern2 Pc. Set Stunning Flow Blue China - 9" Serving Bowls - La Francaise PatternScinde Flow Blue Waste Bowl, John & George Alcock Company, Circa 1839 - 1846Stunning Flow Blue 12.5" China Platter- La Francaise Pattern2 Pc. Stunning Flow Blue China - 9" & 6.5" Serving Bowls - La Francaise Pattern2 Pc. Stunning Flow Blue China - Oval Bowl Set - La Francaise PatternBeautiful Antique Flow Blue Nippon Open Salt Cellar Nut Dish BowlPair Scinde Flow Blue 7-1/4" Plates, John & George Alcock Co., Circa 1839-1846Huge Sh&s Sampson Hancock & Sons Flow Blue Platter Flaxman W/greek Busts YqzLa Belle Flow Blue Art Nouveau Cream PitcherNew Wharf Conway Flow Blue 10 1/2" Serving Platter Circa 1890 - 1894La Belle Flow Blue Art Noaveau Large Footed BowlOld Atlantic City Nj Flow Blue Rowland Marsellus Staffordshire Souvenir Plate NrAntique Porcelain Knobs-pulls-flow Blue-lot Of 24Antique Flow Blue With Gold Highlights Raised Design Grindley & Co Eng & Boston 19c Gaudy Dutch Flow Blue Single Rose Saucer19c Gaudy Dutch Flow Blue Grape Tody Toddy PlateVtg Delft Flow Blue Hand Signed China Porcelain Vase Holland 4 Piece Lot Maddock Dainty Pattern Flow Blue 6 Inch Saucers NiceAntique 1800's Doulton Burslem Flow Blue Chinoiserie Plate Beauty No Reserve!19c Staffordshire Riley's Semi China Flow Blue Plate 9" C1840Stunning Flow Blue China - 9" Octagonal Serving Plate - La Francaise PatternAntique Flow Blue Fairy Villas W. Adams Large Bowl C. 1891Shanghai W.h. Grindley Flow Blue Serving Bowl Oval 8 3/4" Long X 1 3/4" Tall Antique Flow Blue Plate Chapoo Pattern Ironstone 8 1/2" Diameter Very Good Condt1906 Harrisburg Pa Flow Blue Rowland Marsellus Staffordshire Souvenir Plate Nr
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Recent News: Flow Blue

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Roger Campbell's COUNTRY AUCTIONS SATURDAY May 19 @ 3 PM LOCATION: K OF C HALL ...
Antiques and Arts Weekly, May 18th

two swords; Lyric Burlesk poster; Flow Blue tureen; Navajo pottery; costume jewelry; Orley & Son silverplate kettle; Mappin & Webb silverplate rolltop server w/claw feet; Nippon chocolate set; miniature Coast Guard boat (motorized); box of dolls;...Read more

Applebrook Auctions
Antiques and the Arts Online, May 17th

many lots of Gold and Victorian Jewelry , Early Russian Covered Cobalt Urn, large Two Handled Portrait Vase, 19th Blakeney Flow Blue Cheese Dish, Victorian 19th C Flow Blue Staffordshire Cheese Dish, Extrordinary Limoges Artist Signed Fish Set,...Read more

Meissner's Auction Service
Antiques and Arts Weekly, May 11th

Nippon Hd Ptd Vase; Lg Swirl Glass Vase; (2) Art Pottery Jardineres; Flow blue Bowl; Noritaki Cracker Jar; Figural Man's Head Humidor; Set of 6 Silver & Mother of Pearl Cups; Majolica Plate, Sugar Bowl & Footed Bowl; (2) Corner Lustre Pitcher;...Read more

At the galleries
Green Bay Press Gazette, May 9th

Nautical art, antiques and gifts; hand-crafted model ships by Arnie Wegner; flow blue and crystal, 1860s to the present; antique clocks, vintage jewelry and primitives. Buy, sell and trade antiques and nautical items. 10:30 am to 5 pm Thursdays through...Read more

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