Uncommon Linthorpe Pottery Aesthetic Movement butter dish with silver plated frame by James Dixon & Sons c1880. Produced whilst Dr Christopher Dresser was artist director at the Linthorpe Pottery and characteristic of Dresser designs completed whilst he was also engaged to design for James Dixon & Sons. Cylindrical drip-glazed bowl in tonal colours. Silver plated circular stand with rail held by three shaped uprights, supported on three feet. Silver plated lid with finial handle. Knurled detailing to lid and frame. Impressed Linthorpe Pottery mark to base of dish and design number 1012. Stamped James Dixon & Sons silver plate marks to underside of frame. The butter dish measures 8 cm in height to the top of the finial and has a maximum diameter of 12 cm.
 
In 1879 John Harrison (a local businessman) established Linthorpe Pottery in conjunction with Christopher Dresser, one of the most influential designers of the late 19th century. Dresser acted as artistic director at the Pottery until 1882 and continued to submit designs whilst the Pottery remained in production. Dresser recommended Henry Tooth, an artist from Buckinghamshire working at that time on the Isle of Wight, as pottery manager. Henry Tooth, with no prior experience of clay or pottery left Ryde for Linthorpe, spending time at the T.G. Green pottery in Church Gresley, Derbyshire to get a foundation in ceramics. Henry Tooth had brought Richard Patey with him from the Isle of Wight, who managed the pottery after he left in 1882 (to establish to Bretby Pottery in partnership with William Ault). Linthorpe Pottery was only in existence between 1879 and 1889. 
Christopher Dresser completed designs for James Dixon & Sons from at least 1879, when his first recorded design was completed to c1885. His designs for Dixon were predominantly for tableware, including tea services, toast-racks, and the like – with modernist designs, even by today’s standards.