Forma Majorca for the gallery

One wonders if this sample with it's very low D 093 number could be an early example of Forma back in the early 70's when it was first produced for the American market?

Just checked the Database and Majorca is there .... but with the pattern number 986
Ev 3 Nov 11

Oh My Goodness Jonno ..... that is the same pattern and number as Sorrento
Now why would they give it another name I wonder?
Sorrento is on the Forma shape too!
Another new pattern name for the Database thanks Jonno and I will add it to the Gallery

Ev, a little hard to determine from the Gallery photo but I wonder if Sorrento is on a plate with a curved edge whereas Majorca has the Forma bevel edge ??

Hi Ev, I have only ever seen Sorrento on a Forma shape, cheers, marl

I agree with Marl as I have a Sorrento Forma plate too ....

Maybe they changed the name to Sorrento as it sounds better!

I agree Sorrento does sound better and many might pronounce Majorca 'ma jawrca' ooooh!
Anyway we are clear that both were on the Forma bevel edge shape and I possibly have the only Majorca in captivity.
On the other hand a visit ti http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torna_a_Surriento may give another slant to this mystery.

Jonno

Just checked the Database and Majorca is there .... but with the pattern number 986 !!!!!
Hopefully we will find one of those one day?
Another mystery to solve .... human error perhaps?

Good Morning Ev,
Thanks for checking that info. I read in Monk that they had a lot of difficulties in the process used for Forma of transfer designs on biscuitware and then clear glazed over. page 14-15.
Your suggestion of human error may well be the answer,they were under a lot of pressure a Larry Moore says.
"Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life" as the song used to say.

Found it on page 114-115 thanks Jonno.
I homed in on the comment about the 'test runs' of around 100 plates when they first started making this range in 1973. Maybe Majorca d093 was just a test run?

Yes I agree Ev, So my Majorca is likely to be a discontinued experiment pattern and Sorrento was the production one even though we only know of three plates altogether at this stage.

Noticed today that I have three saucers exactly the same except for back stamps
One marked Forma Sorrento D693, One just Forma BS and One with Crown over Made in New Zealand in green
So can we say that Sorrento cups were supplied with these near plain saucers
just as we know was the case with Symphony Cream where the items with the pattern on a cream base are d24050 but the saucers are plain cream and d19300. We can be certain because of this because of the recent purchase of a complete set of this design in the original Packaging.

I have a genuine ironstone plate with the Sorrento pattern. Will try and find it in the morning and take a picture :-)