It's a sickness, really

My ability to keep my ironstone hunting to a minimum is failing me.  Worse, I've never been attracted to anything but plain 'ol white, until I found this.  Now I have another pull...

It's American, 1880s-ish, and produced by WB & Co (William Brunt, Jr) in Liverpool, OH.  Luckily for my budget (and I should note this little covered casserole was inexpensive because it is not simply white), finding any matching pieces will be very difficult.  The potter was only in business for several years.  

If for no other reason than I find it fascinating, here's a little bit about the history of this potter:

In 1866 Thomas Starkey and Nathanial Simms built a two kiln stoneware plant on West Market Street (now Dresden Avenue). Mr. Starkey withdrew from the plant in 1868 and Homer Laughlin joined Mr. Simms. At that time the pottery was known as N. M. Simms and Company. When Homer Laughlin left the company Mr. Ferguson joined with Mr. Simms. By 1875 the plant was closed and sold at Sheriff's sale.

William Brunt, Jr. was the successful bidder and named the pottery the "Dresden Pottery Works". He planned to manufacture Ironstone China. Joining him in the company were his brother Henry Brunt, his brother-in -law, William Bloor, George Martin and Samuel Emery. The company became known as the "Brunt, Bloor, Martin & Company." Mr. Bloor was the first in the city to make whiteware back in 1861, so they continued with the whiteware. The First kiln of the ware was in February 1876. The company produced excellent white ironstone , gold decorated ware, table ware, tea sets, spittoons, toys and double -thick hotel ware. It was that year, that the company went into competition with other white ware manufacturers at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pa. Along with the other companies of the East Liverpool area, they received medal for excellence in production- -The "Highest Award and Diploma of Merit for white granite ware".

In 1876 the company was producing about 780 casks of ware and by the end of the decade they were producing 3000 casks yearly. The production increased each year until 1882 when a lock-out took place in the local potteries.

During the summer and fall of 1881, a lodge of "Knights of Labor" was organized in town. The pottery leaders were greatly opposed to this organization. in any of their potteries. The Boss Potters posted a resolution on the 17th day of June 1882, that members of the Knights of Labor would no longer be employed. This became a contest of boss potters against workers. The workers did not go to work and would not leave the Knights of Labor. Finally, the workers went back to work after 39 weeks when they signed the Manufacturers' "Iron Clad Agreement" which stated they would not belong to the Knights of Labor. The men lost this contest, but in the long run, the manufacturers also lost and the community was the biggest loser. Business and Real estate values suffered and the division of labor and management greatly widened.

Within a short time of the "Iron Clad Agreement" the owners of the Dresden Pottery Works sensed a change in the labor contracts and they decided to sell the pottery The company was sold to a group of workmen headed by H. A. McNicol. The potters purchased 3/4 interest in the plant and Mr. Emery kept the remaining 1/4 interest.  

This article, by Joan Witt, continues here.