Platter, 9 x 7 inches. Black transfer with polychrome clobbering. Printed maker's mark for Edward F. Bodley & Co. The hand-painted pattern number "3609" may indicate the shape of the piece as there is a series of these patterns on round plates that all have the same pattern number of "3680." Here a brightly colored bird is seemingly alarmed at the large beetle hovering nearby. The bird rests on a vine containing a passion flower and bud with brilliant green leaves. Tendrils from the vine drift outward in several directions. A simple gold line and row of raised dots delineate the border.
The Scotia Works was originally the parish workhouse of Burslem and was calculated to accommodate three hundred inmates On the establishment of unions under the Poor Law Act when the new union workhouse was erected this building was occupied as barracks and so continued for some years. It was then converted into a manufactory by Mr. James Vernon in 1857 and he in 1862 was succeeded by the present firm of Edward F. Bodley & Co. At these works the usual descriptions of earthenware, printed, enameled, and gilt and ironstone china for steamship and hotel use were made. In 1880 the company changed to Edward F. Bodley & Sons, who in 1881 removed to the New Bridge Pottery, Longport.
The Hill Pottery China Works in 1867 were carried on by Messrs. Alcock, Diggory & Co. In 1870 the firm was altered into that of Bodley and Diggory, but in the following year Mr. Diggory, having retired, the manufactory was continued by Mr. Edward F. Bodley. In 1874 the style was again changed to Bodley and Son and in 1875 to Edwin J. D. Bodley. The productions formerly embraced china earthenware and Parian but were later entirely confined to china. A specialty of Mr. Bodley's productions was that of pans and vases for chandeliers and lamps. These were made of various forms, and more or less highly decorated; they formed an important branch of manufacture. Services of all the usual kinds, more or less elaborately decorated, were also made. The markets supplied were the home and the South Australian, New Zealand, and Colonial.
