The strong architectural shape of this foot tub--simple, with prominent collar and handles and without excess molded detail--provides a broad surface ready for a dramatic transfer printed decoration. The idea of a floral spray seems pretty conventional. The explosion of orchids and foliage depicted here in brown transfer, however, is both sophisticated and unexpected.

What differentiates this floral composition from earlier prints of polite nosegays is the influence of the free, spontaneous depiction of natural objects found in Japanese art. Brown-Westhead, Moore & Company employed decorators noted for their unconventional approach to nature. Whether or not those individuals developed this particular print, the influence of their up-to-date approach is clear. The result is fresh without a hint of fussiness.

The Brown-Westhead & Moore partnership represents the middle management phase of a major Staffordshire pottery. The Cauldon works were established and developed by a branch of the Ridgway family--a familiar name in the history of transferware. After the B-W & M era, the pottery continued well into the twentieth century as Cauldon. Our tub is the product of a manufacturer with a sophisticated outlook, hiring advanced designers, establishing retail outlets on the continent, and achieving recognition at the major international exhibitions. A review of their patterns reveals a distinct predilection for natural subjects handled in an unexpected manner.

While the Victorian homemaker would doubtless be shocked at today's uses for foot tubs, they nevertheless provide an effective base for a variety of floral presentations. We have attached two display photos to demonstrate.