City of Armadale - History House > Records

JUG, WASH - EARTHENWARE WASHSTAND SET

J&G Meakin
1910 - 1937
Overview

A white, ceramic jug with a bulbous lower body tapering to a narrower neck. The neck is flared with a scalloped rim forming five lobes, two of which form the spout. A single vertical handle runs from the base to be attached under the upper rim. The jug's outside is painted with flower and leaf patterns in blue. There are gilded accents to the blue paintwork. The inside of the jug is white with flowers painted in one spot only. [TRIPOLI], [J&G MEAKIN/HANLEY ENGLAND] is written in blue and marked with a crown symbol on the bottom of the jug.

Historical information

J & G Meakin Ironstone China wash stand set featuring a jug, bowl and toothbrush holder. The set was owned by Ellie and Gordon Devereux and their daughter Joan and son Ricky in the 1920s. It is through the set was possibly purchased in England before the family migrated to Australia in 1920. In 1926 the family built a home on the corner of Third Road and Church Avenue. The new home included a proper bathroom with a shower, bath, wash basin and a wood chip heater for hot water. The need for the washstand set diminished and it was instead used a decorative item in the family home before being passed onto Joan's daughter Jan who displayed it at her home until 2025 when it was donated to the museum.
J&G Meakin were a British pottery manufacturing company based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire from 1851 to 1970 when they were taken over by the Wedgwood Group. The company was well known for mass producing affordable Ironstone China goods for the domestic market and for export primarily to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America.
The set is in the firms Tripoli style and the makers mark was used from c1912 to 1937.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-33-COA2025.1a
Item type
Ceramics
Earthenware
Material
Ceramic (Material)
Width
185 mm
Height or length
305 mm
Depth
170 mm
Inscriptions and markings

[TRIPOLI] / [J&G MEAKIN/HANLEY ENGLAND]

Keywords
Ceramics
Earthenware
Kitchen Utensils
Place made
United Kingdom
Year
1910 - 1937
Statement of significance

This wash stand set is significant for its strong historical and social associations with the Devereux family and for its ability to illustrate patterns of migration, domestic life, and community building in early twentieth-century Western Australia. Probably purchased in England before Ellie and Gordon Devereux migrated to Australia in 1920, the set accompanied the family on their journey and was used during their early years in Armadale.

Primary significance criteria
Historic significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Rare or representative
Well provenanced
Last modified
Saturday, 4 July, 2026
Completeness
100
City of Armadale - History House

City of Armadale - History House

A white, ceramic jug with a bulbous lower body tapering to a narrower neck. The neck is flared with a scalloped rim forming five lobes, two of which form the spout. A single vertical handle runs from the base to be attached under the upper rim. The jug's outside is painted with flower and leaf patterns in blue. There are gilded accents to the blue paintwork. The inside of the jug is white with flowers painted in one spot only.
A white, ceramic jug with a bulbous lower body tapering to a narrower neck. The neck is flared with a scalloped rim forming five lobes, two of which form the spout. A single vertical handle runs from the base to be attached under the upper rim. The jug's outside is painted with flower and leaf patterns in blue. There are gilded accents to the blue paintwork. The inside of the jug is white with flowers painted in one spot only.
A 3-piece, white and blue ceramic set of earthenware, consisting of a large jug, a large bowl or wash basin, and a small vase.
A 3-piece set of blue and white printed, ceramic earthenware, with light gilding to the printed pattern. The set consists of a large jug, a large bowl or wash basin, and a small vase.

Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->