THE ALCOCK MYSTERY

Willa Latham goes on the trail of one of the most enigmatic figures in British porcelain

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Last month we looked at the beautiful but often misunderstood porcelain of Rockingham in Yorkshire. This month, we're back in Staffordshire, looking at an equally misunderstood yet important factory, and the man who unravelled its mystery in recent years.

Often mistaken for Coalport, Minton, Ridgway or, indeed, Rockingham, the porcelain of Samuel Alcock has remained something of an enigma. No books have been written on this prominent factory, and even reputable dealers sometimes sell these pieces under different names, unaware of the typical styles, shapes and patterns of Alcock porcelain.

Samuel Alcock was born in 1799. A precocious young boy, he was apprenticed to his uncle, a well-known businessman. Alcock was not born into a potting family, he came to produce porcelain out of his business acumen rather than tradition. In 1822 he went into partnership with Ralph Stephenson, a potter of blue-printed earthenware. They started to produce porcelain and soon the factory was thriving. Alcock applied his business instinct in every way possible, styling the factory Samuel Alcock & Co in 1826, while Stephenson took a back seat before retirement. During the 1820s, the company produced beautiful wares with flower paintings in a small number of typical shapes, alongside more traditional earthenware.