F&R Pratt developed a process for transfer printing in the 1840's using 4 colors: green, ochre, blue and brown. Jesse Austin was the inventor. This was a major improvement over the monochrome transferware in use at the time. This new process was called Pratt Ware and was used for all kinds of pottery and porcelain table wares, but especially for putting pictures on the lids of pomade pots. Victorians would buy these pots of hair grease, use the contents and throw away the pot and lid. These lovely potlids are highly collectible today. Runners and other people search the British Isles, digging up early trash dumps, looking for these interesting antique lids. F&R Pratt was the largest producer, although they were also produced at other ceramic factories. Antique, Victorian potlids are particularly interesting because famous paintings were used as the subject matter. The subject matter of the painting was often be printed on the potlid.

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