John Meir Staffordshire Pottery Mark Identification Query

by Denise Lefor

JM - John Meir Staffordshire Pottery Mark Identification Query:- I have a decorative plate heavy earthenware-yellow ware? It has a 3 D scene of a man and woman in a cottage kitchen seated beside him is hunting rifle.

Very detailed.

The back is impressed J.M.

The numbers 5139

Below it also a small circle with two 3/4 circles located at the top and bottom inside the outer circle.

I have found a John Meir Green Gates Pottery Tunstall 1812-1836 who used J.M. initials. Can you offer any help?

Thank you

Denise

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Reply from Peter (admin) below - just scroll down

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Reply by Peter (admin)

To:- JM John Meir Staffordshire Pottery Mark Identification Query

Hello Denise

Interesting item, thanks for the query. The first thing to say is you have done well to get as far as digging up the name of John Meir.

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UPDATE
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Thanks to a submission by Swedish visitor Roger, we now have a solution to this query by Denise.

Go to this page for the answer to who this JM mark belongs to:

JM John Meir or Johann Maresch Pottery Mark?

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END UPDATE
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Original reply continued (this reply concentrates on the three different John Meir Staffordshire factories):-

It would assist me if visitors were to upload a clear picture of the back pottery marks as well as the item itself.

By the looks of your plate you are in the territory of experts. It looks very old and very rare, and therefore may be quite valuable.

But I'm no expert, just an enthusiast who works in the industry.

That said, I CAN tell you what I know. In general terms there are virtually no 'J.M.'s' listed in any of my various reference books other than for a maker or makers known as John Meir. This means you are most likely on the right track. Any other 'JM's' would be much more obscure and require specialist antiquarian knowledge.


The important thing to note is there are three different John Meir companies listed in Goddens. Two of them are linked as follows:-

John Meir of Tunstall Staffordshire, founded 1812 which was renamed John Meir & Son in 1837 when he took his son into the business, and continued until 1897. The first company was known to pottery mark their wares as J M and I M. The second usually used J M & S or J M & Son. They made good quality earthenwares.

A third John Meir of Staffordshire exists. Goddens lists a maker of earthenware called John Meir which operated way back in the mists of time (late 1600's to early 1700's). Very few items exist of this maker's wares, but a sculpted earthenware cot has been found with his name (not initials) inscribed with a date of 1708.

There may well be some family connection going back over 100 years as the pottery trade in Staffordshire was passed from one generation to another.

I hope this helps in your quest for information.

Best regards,

Peter (admin)

p.s. The following page is a 'must see' if you are researching fine china - for value and identification:-

Researching the identity and value of antique and vintage fine china.

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