ABERDEEN
Probably named after James Campbell Hamilton Gordon,
7th Earl & Marquis of Aberdeen, Viceroy of Ireland in 1886.
His wife, Lady Aberdeen was a promoter of the Arts. Colour
Ways: Plain white cob highlights and blue trim. Period:
2nd.
ARTICHOKE
Mrs Armstrong, wife of Robert William Armstrong,
one of the Founders and first manager of the Pottery, is credited
for the design of this set.
Colour Ways: White, white with gilding, green with
gilding, white with pink highlights and gilded.
Period: 1st & 2nd.
BLARNEY
Modelled by Frederick Slater, probably named after
Castle Blarney. To this day people flock to "kiss"
the Blarney Stone hoping for the gift of speech!
Colour Ways: White, light pink trim
Period: 2nd.
CELTIC
Madam Boroniuxz, a Hungarian, worked at the pottery
under E'Loyd 1920 - 1926. Referring to the Book of Kells,
she adapted the illustrations to form these Celtic patterns.
Four shapes were used for decoration - Ring-handle blanks
and three new designs called Low, Tall Celtic and the Three
Leg pot. All four are quite different.
CELTIC RING-HANDLE "CELTIC
LOW"
CELTIC HIGH
CELTIC, THREE LEG TEA SET
To-date unrecorded.
CHINESE TEA FARE
Belleek exhibited this set at the Dublin Exhibition in 1872
the Pottery's first major exhibition. A very different design
to their normal range but not practical - the tea set would
be cold before reaching the lips.
Colour Ways: White, white and gilded and exceptional
colours.
Periods: 1st period, re-introduced 1991 as collectors
piece.
CONE
A fir pattern is impressed on the tray and the final
teapot represents small fir cones.
Colour Range: Plain, or green, pink and butterscotch.
Period:2nd.
ECHINUS
Pronounced (E-k-inus). The name is derived from the
Greek ekhinos meaning - hedgehog skinned. Echinus
Demotter is the proper name for the Sea Urchin upon which
this design by Mrs Annie Langly Nairn (FRS) is based. Belleek's
derivation sometimes has six. Queen Victoria ordered one of
these tea sets for herself and another to give as a present
to the Empress of Germany.
Colour Ways: Plain white, white with gold trim, pink
trim, green trim, and bright orange tinge.
Period: 1st & 2nd.
ERNE
Named after the lake and the river Erne upon which
the pottery is situated.
Colour Ways: White, white and cob, green tinge, and
pink tinge.
Period: 2nd only.
FAN
Colour Ways: White, white and cob, decorated.
Period: 1st & 2nd.
FINNER WARE
Named after one of the Townlands in which the Town of Belleek lies. Finner translated from
Gaelic means "Fair Plain".
Period: 2nd.
FIVE O'CLOCK TEA SET
Designed by Harris. The handle is shaped as 5 o'clock.
Colour Ways: Green, white and cob.
Period: 2nd.
GRASS
One of Belleek's most popular sets. When building up sets care must be taken to match the
colours as they vary considerably.
Period: Mainly found in 1st period, but also found in most other periods.
HEXAGON
The plain shape of this set lends itself to the artists brush so hexagon blanks were often
used for the tea sets.
Colour Ways: Colour tints to be found; gold, green, pink, cob and butterscotch.
Period: 2nd.
INSTITUTE WARE
Through Kerr of Chapel Street, Dublin, Queen Victoria ordered a breakfast service. Kerr
commissioned the design from Miss Kealy of the Queen's Institute of Female Professional
Schools, Dublin. She was one of the "gentlewomen of limited means" trained by
this charitable institute for jobs in industry, the Post Office or professions. The design
was registered at the Patent Office on 12 November, 1870. Unlike other named tea sets
"Institute" pattern is different to that on the cups and saucers.
Colour Ways: White on cob, pink and turquoise.
Period: 1st & 2nd.
IVY
Colour Ways: Ivy leaves highlighted with (early pink) cob or green.
Period: 1st & 3rd.
LACE
A very decorative pattern lending itself to many combinations of decoration. Frederick
Slater re-designed this set in the 1900's.
Colour Ways: White, white and cob, white and gold.
Period: 2nd.
HIGH LILY
Not to be confused with Low Lily which is totally different but as the pieces are scarce
it can be difficult to familiarise oneself with the patterns.
Colour Ways: Green.
Period: 2nd.
LIMPET
A very popular design based on the sea limpet which was produced during most periods. The
pieces were footed in earlier sets but Frederick Slater re-modelled the design in the
early 1900's.
Periods: Most.
MASK
The chubby, laughing face seen in this design represents Bacchus, the noisy and riotous
god of wine; hence the vine leaves and grapes incorporated into the rest of the design.
Colour Ways: White and white with cob, green and pink.
Period: 3rd and later.
NEPTUNE
This design is named after Neptune, Lord of the Seas, aptly so as it incorporates several
sea shells. Figured are the common Limpet, and the Blue Rayed Limpet and the Scallop with
Coral for a handle and Small Pond Snail shells for feet.
Colour Ways: White, cob, green, pink, butterscotch and coloured.
Period: 2nd and all periods.
RING-HANDLE
A most popular blank, the simple design leaving the ware ready for different decorations.
Other potteries also used the Ring-Handle shape.
Period: 1st.
THE LIMOGES DECORATION
Introduced by Armstrong, at the time this was a new form of decoration. The picture is
built up with a clay mixture and then painted with enamel. Found in First period. Two most
common patterns: THE STORK and CONVULVUS.
SCROLL
Colour Ways: Green, pink.
Period: 2nd.
SHELL
Designed using a mixture of shells and coral. Like the Limpet service the earlier pieces
were footed, but re-modelled by Frederick Slater.
Colour Ways: White, pink, pink and gold.
Period: 1st and other periods.
SYDNEY
Colour Ways: Green, pink.
Period: 2nd.
THISTLE
Colour Ways: White, pink trim.
Period: 1st and re-introduced in gold.
THORN
The Thorn pattern is based on a branch of the Hawthorn in blossom combined with a spider's
web. Registered at the Patent Office on 27 April, 1878 giving Belleek copyright for three
years.
Colour Ways: Pink, orange, turquoise, brown, black.
Period: 1st.
TRIDACNA
Tridacna is the Latin name for a group of Clam shells found in Tropical Pacific Ocean.
They grow to a huge size and are fluted with ribs for strength.
Colour Ways: White, pink, green, blue.
Period: Most periods.
VICTORIA
Colour Ways: White, pink, green.
Period: 2nd.
PATTERN X
This pattern is unrecorded, but seemed to have been used to a large extent during the
early days.
Belleek Index ¦ Introduction ¦ Marks ¦ Parian Statues & Busts ¦ Centre Pieces ¦ Vases, Spills & Cornucopias
Miscellaneous Figurines &
Ornaments ¦ Baskets ¦ Candlesticks Lamps ¦ Mirrors
Jardinières, Flower Pots
& Wall Brackets ¦ Lithophanes
¦ Holy Water Fonts ¦ Jugs
Comports, Dessert Services
¦ Crested ¦ Tea Sets ¦ Christmas Plates ¦ Appendix I - Tea Sets
Appendix II -
History & Names ¦ Catalogue
1904 ¦ Catalogue 1949
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