Paul Scott updates traditional white and blue English transferware pottery with modern prints and Kintsugi breaking and joining techniques. Scott makes his own tissue prints which he then transfers onto a mix of vintage and new pottery. I really enjoy his witty and thought-provoking subject matter and how subversive the modern designs are when viewed against the traditional backdrop of transferware.

Interestingly enough, transferware is a method that has been used for centuries to make affordable earthenware, porcelain, and even china. Traditionally, a print was created on a copper plate, then stamped, typically in a single color, on pre-cut transfer paper, which was then applied to blank pottery. It’s still in production today, and it’s so ubiquitous, I’m guessing nearly every one of us has at least one or two pieces of the stuff.

You can check out all of Paul Scott’s wonderful creations on his website and on Instagram.

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'Scott’s Cumbrian Blue(s), The Syria Series, Palmyra No:4' (2016). In-glaze decal collage and gold lustre on partially erased, ‘Palmyra’ platter by Brownfield, c. 1870… #transferware #collage #brownfield #palmyra

A post shared by Paul Scott (@cumbrianblue_s) on May 23, 2018 at 4:33am PDT

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#bestnine2018…. 15,628 likes to 162 posts in 2018…. #cumbrianblue_snews #transferware #collage #kintsugi #gaza #fukushima #waterfall #spode #cobalt #enochwoodandsons

A post shared by Paul Scott (@cumbrianblue_s) on Dec 30, 2018 at 2:54am PST

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‘Cumbrian Blue(s), Landscape (Wil Hefe and Rocd Rosort)’…. collage, cut and re-assembled 19th century transferware platters (‘Wild Rose’ by an unknown maker and ‘Castle Rochefort’ by Brameld) with Kintsugi… showing in ‘From the Sublime at the Concrete’ @scottishgallery June 6 – 30 … #collage #transferware #kintsugi #wildrose #brameld #castlerochefort #cumbrianblue_snews

A post shared by Paul Scott (@cumbrianblue_s) on Jun 5, 2018 at 1:15am PDT

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#newamericanscenery test piece…. using Syracuse Pottery bisque tableware blanks I am going to create a new series of contemporary American ‘souvenir’ transferwares… this weekend I’ve been working with @holitron2.0 testing glazes and decals.. Over the next few weeks she will be (#pearlware) glazing wares for me, so that they are ready for my prints later this summer. #transferware #syracusepottery #alturasfoundation #cumbrianblue_snews @projectart01026 @ferrincontemporary

A post shared by Paul Scott (@cumbrianblue_s) on Apr 28, 2019 at 8:04am PDT

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#Repost @jasch867 ・・・ Detail, ‘Scott's Cumbrian Blue(s) Bridges, Boats and Blossoms’ 2017, Taste Contemporary Craft #art #fair #tresor #artlover #porcelaine #messe #basel #sculpture #white #blue #gold #messebasel #craft #contemporary #contemporaryart #artfair #ceramics #contemporaryceramics #tresor2017 #scott #paulscott #cumbrianblues #boats #blossoms #taste #ceramicart #basellove #switzerland #transferware @cumbrianblue_s @tastecontemporarycraft

A post shared by Paul Scott (@cumbrianblue_s) on Oct 10, 2017 at 12:20pm PDT

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Tissue print (Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant, after #stubbs Boston State House) from Paul Holdway’s engraving made for my #newamericanscenery project… plus some of our cup plates testing glazes, colours as well as ink media… and a pic in my studio of me with #paulholdway looking at an #enochwoodandsons #niagarafalls #transferware platter #indianpointnuclearpowerplant #cumbrianblue_snews #raidtheiceboxnow

A post shared by Paul Scott (@cumbrianblue_s) on Jun 13, 2019 at 9:52am PDT

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‘Cumbrian Blue(s), Palestine, Gaza’. Made in 2014 and back in my studio after time away on exhibition… unfortunately the work has not dated…. #adams #palestine #gaza #transferware #collage.

A post shared by Paul Scott (@cumbrianblue_s) on Jul 29, 2018 at 11:49pm PDT

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So, after four years of travel and research (supported by the #alturasfoundation and #artscouncilengland ), New American Scenery artworks are finally taking shape here @projectart01026 … installation will take place in a couple of weeks time @risdmuseum …. part of #raidtheiceboxnow … Here is the first piece in a series of ‘fleurs.de.sel ’s New York’…. ‘Hot Dogs’, with ‘The City Hotel New York’ from 1826 by Ralph Stevenson & Williams (RISD Museum collection)… The oak leaf pattern is an enlargement of a cup plate border, engraved for me by Paul Holdway, former Spode engraver. @fleurs.de.sel @aceagrams @ferrincontemporary @leslieferrin #paulholdway #transferware #spode #newamericanscenery #cumbrianblue_snews

A post shared by Paul Scott (@cumbrianblue_s) on Aug 21, 2019 at 7:14am PDT

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#Repost @vamuseum with @get_repost ・・・ In 2001, Cumbria was the worst affected by an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease which resulted in the deaths of over 6 million cows and sheep. This piece, from @cumbrianblue_s, subverts traditional English blue and white pottery with a scene that reflects the bleak reality the farming community faced. Discover how culture, politics and economics collide in the kitchen at our new FOOD exhibition – link in bio #PlateUp #Farming #Agriculture #FoodFutures #FarmAnimals #FoodChain #FoodSustainability #Pottery

A post shared by Paul Scott (@cumbrianblue_s) on Jun 24, 2019 at 2:27pm PDT

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Detail, ‘By a Waterfall’ in #hometreasures @blaafarveverket #blaafarveværket #collage #transferware #newamericanscenery #enochwoods #niagarafalls #karibadam #philadelphiawaterworks #gustavsbergsporslin #spode #abbey #cumbrianblueshometreasures #cumbrianblue_snews

A post shared by Paul Scott (@cumbrianblue_s) on May 21, 2018 at 10:59am PDT