Originally made by error or an intentional design choice? This style of antique china is called Flow Blue due to the fact that the designs applied in blue would blur slightly when the pieces were fired in the kiln. The vintage dish ware was most popular during the Victorian era and has experienced several surges of renewed popularity in the past 45 years.
The hazy quality in the design is originally thought to be a mistake, though how such pieces became so popular is up to debate. Some sources say that the diffusion was later intentional as it softened the edges of the pattern. Others argue that since manufacturers found themselves with an abundance of factory seconds and thirds, rejected because the blue overflowed into the white more than usual, the low cost of these rejected pieces made Flow Blue popular with the middle and working classes. From 1840 to 1870, the popularity of Flow Blue rose, and in the late 19th century and early 20th centuries, this style could be found in homes across North America. A small collection of Flow Blue transferware resides in the museum’s Jail.