Fully Documented Victorian Ironstone Set with Original Ladle & Underplate | Registered August 3, 1863
Collector’s Note
Complete Victorian ironstone service pieces—especially those retaining their original ladle and underplate—are increasingly scarce. Examples bearing a British registration diamond are particularly prized, as they can be dated to a specific day of design registration.
This John Meir & Son tureen, registered in 1863, represents both a functional table form and a fully documented piece of Staffordshire ceramic history.
Rare and highly collectible antique white ironstone sauce tureen set by John Meir & Son of Staffordshire, England, presented here in the desirable Washington Shape and retaining all original components.
This complete set includes the covered tureen, original ladle, and matching underplate. The design features a refined Victorian silhouette accented by a subtle floral pattern and rope border, balancing decorative detail with the clean, durable qualities associated with 19th-century ironstone.
The underside of the underplate bears both printed and impressed marks, including the British registration diamond, which dates the design precisely to August 3, 1863. The mark also references the Washington Shape, a named form produced during this period.
Registration Diamond
Used in Britain from 1842–1883, the registration diamond records the exact date a design was registered. Its presence allows this piece to be confidently dated to August 3, 1863—adding both historical clarity and collector value.
The set is in excellent antique condition, with no chips, cracks, or crazing noted. The survival of all original components in such condition is increasingly uncommon, making this a standout example for both collectors and display.
Dimensions: Tureen - 8″ (handle to handle) x 3 ½″ H (without lid) x 6″ H (with lid) | Underplate- 9 ¼″ x 6″ | Ladle - 7″ long.
Historical Note
John Meir established his pottery at Greensgate, Tunstall, in Staffordshire in the early 19th century, with the firm becoming John Meir & Son in 1837. The company produced high-quality ironstone and earthenware, much of it exported to the American market.
By the mid-19th century, British potteries began registering designs with the Patent Office, resulting in the now well-known registration diamond system, which allows certain pieces to be dated precisely. This tureen’s 1863 registration places it firmly within the Victorian period, when ironstone was valued for its durability, clean appearance, and suitability for both everyday use and formal service.
Browse our Antique Ironstone collection for additional pieces of ironstone, including pitchers, tureens and covered dishes, plates, platters, compotes and much more.
