J. Meir & Son "Fruit & Flowers" Draining Dish, c. 1880

A wonderful and unusually specialized piece of mid-19th-century Staffordshire ironstone, this pierced meat draining dish was made by John Meir & Son of the Greengates Pottery in Tunstall, Staffordshire, and decorated in the “Fruit & Flowers” pattern in green transfer.

The dish features an exuberant botanical design of flowers, fruit, foliage, and birds, printed across the surface in rich shades of green. The generously pierced body is characteristic of a meat draining dish, designed to sit within or over a larger serving platter and allow the juices and fat from roast meat to drain away while keeping the meat elevated.

John Meir & Son was an established Staffordshire pottery firm operating at the Greengates Pottery in Tunstall from 1837 to 1897. John Meir had been producing pottery at the works since 1812 and brought his son Henry into the business in 1837. Although John died in 1844, the firm continued under the name John Meir & Son for decades afterward. The pottery produced a broad range of earthenware and ironstone for domestic and export markets, and its wares are particularly recognizable today through marks incorporating J. M. & S., J. Meir & Son, and related variations.

Specialized pierced serving pieces such as this are considerably less commonplace than standard plates and platters, making this a particularly charming example for the collector of early Staffordshire transferware and ironstone. The combination of its unusual form and highly decorative botanical pattern makes it just as appealing displayed as part of a collection as it would have been in its original Victorian dining service.

Origin: Staffordshire, England
Maker: John Meir & Son, Greengates Pottery
Pattern: Fruit & Flowers
Date: c. 1880
Material: Ironstone
Decoration: Green transferware
Dimensions: 13" L x 9.5" W
Condition: Good antique condition with age-related wear, crazing, staining, discoloration, and minor imperfections consistent with age and use. Heavy patina.