Ashworth decorates this ironstone desert bowl in one of the "Bandana" patterns continued from the period of Mason family ownership of the pottery.  The pattern consists of  a variety of Chinese dogs and medallions scattered over, and almost obscured by, a dense field of curled cloud motifs. 

Flaming "Chinese" red enamel fills the black transfer ground pattern, leaving the dogs and their exotic accessories in starkly contrasting white. The "Bandana" design is employed as a "sheet pattern," applied as a solid field with no added border. The strength of the color and appeal of the dogs, however, ensure that there is no sense of monotony.

Masons "Bandana" patterns successfully engaged the public from the time of their mid-nineteenth century introduction in the last years of  Mason family management, through the balance of the century, and into the twentieth.  Ashworth developed a number of imaginative variations. We have owned treatments, ranging from the red ground seen here, to a yellow ground also available on this website, to  a yellow and orange version,  a rich bronze or tortoise variant and others.  

In addition, a matching teapot (see final photo) is currently offered on this site.