19th Century Griffin, Smith and Hill Etruscan Majolica Maple Pedestal Compote Cake Platter

Description

19th Century Griffin, Smith and Hill Etruscan Majolica Maple Pedestal Compote Cake Platter. Circa 1880s.
Etruscan Majolica (Griffin, Smith & … more 19th Century Griffin, Smith and Hill Etruscan Majolica Maple Pedestal Compote Cake Platter. Circa 1880s.
Etruscan Majolica (Griffin, Smith & Hill)
The largest and best known of the American majolica manufacturers was Griffen, Smith and Hill of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. In 1867, John Griffen partnered with W.A.H. Schreiber in establishing a pottery in conjunction with the Philadelphia Iron Works producing fire bricks and Rockingham wares. The business thrived and in 1871 John Smith, an English potter from Stoke-on-Trent joined the firm with Schreiber leaving soon thereafter. Griffin’s sons Henry and George joined the firm along with potter William Hill. Thereafter, the partnership was known as Griffen, Smith and Hill and by 1879 had begun producing majolica. Following Hill’s departure in 1880, the company was renamed Griffen, Smith and Company, although and the “H” in the firm’s monogram continued to be used and the original name is still used by collectors. The name “Etruscan” mirrored Wedgwood’s use of “Etruria” and reflected the archaeological discoveries of fine pottery around Rome. less