Crown Ducal “Bristol” Shallow Bowl

A beautiful vintage English transferware serving bowl in the Bristol pattern by Crown Ducal, decorated in a rich pink-to-red transfer against a creamy white ground.

At the center, two pheasants appear among an abundant arrangement of peonies, flowering branches and scrolling foliage. The botanical decoration continues around the shaped rim in alternating floral sprays and ornamental cartouches, following the bowl’s softly scalloped edge.

Introduced by Crown Ducal in 1931, Bristol was based upon the enduring Asiatic Pheasants tradition, one of the great recurring designs of English transferware. Crown Ducal adapted the familiar combination of exotic birds and extravagant flowers to its own molded Premier shape and offered Bristol in several colors, including blue, grey, green and pink or mulberry. The pattern proved exceptionally successful and remained in production for decades. 

The combination of its shallow bowl form and elaborate decoration makes this particularly good for display. It would sit beautifully in a plate rack or china cabinet, layered into a transferware wall, or used as a serving piece among mixed English china. The pink coloration also has considerably more depth than a typical pale pink transfer, reading almost cranberry or mulberry where the engraving is most concentrated.

Origin: Staffordshire, England, Crown Ducal, Bristol pattern, introduced 1931
Material: Glazed earthenware with pink/mulberry transfer-printed decoration
Dimensions: 8" Diameter
Condition: Vintage condition with light wear consistent with age and use. Fine crazing visible to the reverse. Please review all photographs as part of the condition description.