Transfer-printing begins with a pattern or design etched onto a copper plate. The copper plate is then inked and with the help of a press, the design is "transferred" to a special tissue which is placed onto the pre-fired unglazed ceramic. The design was added to the ware by rubbing the tissue against it; the combination of friction and oil helped the colour adhere. Transfer-printing was originally done in only one colour, but the technique quickly advanced to multi-colour transfers. Blue was popular because of its durability under firing. It also closely resembled the blue of the popular Oriental ceramic ware that had been introduced to England from China. This also helps explain why the transfer process originally used Oriental designs, although domestic scenes of Canada, the United States and England were quickly adopted. Soon most Victorian households had a set of transfer-printed dishware; it was no longer confined to the upper classes. This particular piece has all the telling signs of transfer-ware, most notably the uneven lines where the potter attempted to match up the edges of the pattern.

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