XRF Analysis, Alva cobalt, West Pans and Longton Hall Porcelain

Abstract

• Research conducted in 1993 by Middleton & Cowell at the British Museum suggests that cobalt used to decorate porcelain from William Littler’s venture at Longton Hall (1749-60) was chemically distinct from that used by him while at West Pans (1764-77). They considered that at least some West Pans cobalt was derived from Scottish sources; the Alva silver mines in Clackmannanshire. As the cobalt used at Longton Hall contained small amounts of bismuth they thought that most, if not all came from sources in Europe. The Alva suggestion was borne out by the discovery of a letter, from William Littler to Lord Barjarg, found in the Scottish archives, as did XRF analysis, conducted by Jennifer Mass on a perceived West Pans soup tureen in the collections of the du Pont's Winterthur Museum. Recent research by Johnna Dunster, at Cranfield University, also suggested different cobalt sources. These investigations prompted a larger program of XRF analysis, sponsored by the English Ceramic Circle on West Pans porcelain, from three major Scottish collections, along with sherd material from both Longton Hall and West Pans.