Instructions on How to Conduct a Search

Transferware collectors can search for a pattern by any one or a combination of the following ways:

• Pattern Name.  If you know it, simply enter a pattern name.
• You may also enter the name of a series, e.g. “Pineapple Border Series"
• Pattern Category.  Choose a category from a drop down list of these categories:
• Aesthetic
  
• American Themes
• Animals
• The Arts
• British Themes
• Children's Subjects
• Chinoiserie
• European Themes (literal and imaginary)
• Floral and Botanical
• Indian and Oriental Themes
• Miscellaneous
• Romantic Themes
• Border.  Once you have selected a pattern category, you can further refine your search by selecting from a list of border types.  Or, if you are uncertain about the type of border, simply keep the default as  “All”
• Makers. Choose from a list of makers
• Type of Mark.  Choose from a list of types of marks
• Predominant Features.  Select a pattern category and sub-category, and then choose from a list of predominant features found in the central pattern you wish to research. When you search by Predominant Features only, and you do not choose a Pattern Category and sub-category as an additional search criterion, the list will be very large and more than one entry of the same feature may appear on the list.  If this occurs, it is important that you click on the box (which places a green check inside the box) for every entry of the feature(s) for which you are searching, even if the same feature appears more than once.  For example, if "Fisherman" is listed three times, select (click on the box) all three entries for "Fisherman" in order to find all patterns, regardless of pattern category, that have a fisherman as a main feature of the pattern. 

Once you have defined your search parameters, click on the search button     and conduct your search.

If there are patterns matching any of your search criteria, the database will display a list of pattern names and categories with a corresponding thumbnail image of the pattern (unless you have checked the box for “show list only.”  The latter will produce a list of pattern names only, without other details and thumbnail images.)

Next, select a pattern from this list by clicking on the pattern name or the thumbnail image and you will be taken to the pattern record itself.  It’s that easy!  If you click on the thumbnail image to arrive at the pattern record, you may return to the list of patterns by clicking on the back arrow on your browser. If you arrived at the pattern record by clicking on the name of the pattern, you will need to click on the “X” in the upper right hand corner to close this window and return to the list.

If your first search attempt does not result in a match with the pattern you are looking for, click on “Return to search page to search again” and try using other search criteria or broadening your search. 

If no pattern names or thumbnail images appear, the pattern has probably not yet been entered into the database.

How to read Dimensions:  In most examples, when dimensions are given to describe the item displayed, they are given in following order:  Length, Width, Height.  If only the dimensions are given, as in this example, "9.5 x 5 x 10.25 inches", it is understood that the dimensions are 9.5 inches long x 5 inches wide x 10.25 inches high.

Search the Database