3. Historical Research Issues

The issues facing historical research into porcelain factories in the 19th Century and the problems facing Swansea and Nantgarw china works research: the absence of factory pattern books and work schedules for commissioned services is especially noteworthy for these two small factories in comparison with their larger contemporary competitors such as Worcester and Derby, where original records are still extant for consultation and study. The use of pattern numbers, absent for Nantgarw and sporadic for Swansea is discussed along with the presence of factory impressed and applied stencil and script marks, which especially for Nantgarw products were prone to mimicry and faking. Disputed attributions again illustrate the necessity for a holistic approach to vet and confirm genuine articles form spurious porcelain generated at other factories but bearing a Swansea or Nantgarw mark. The attribution of an artist to the decoration of ceramics has always been challenging and is no exception for these two factories and a list of artists who have been identified as working at Swansea and Nantgarw is provided.