Ribbon backstamp
Crown backstamp
Script backstamp
Two books on Carlton Ware were published in 2012. See our Publications page for details.
Previous Articles 10
Below are selected articles published on this site in May to August 2011. We hope you will find some of interest.
Articles here have been moved from the Recent Articles & Announcements page and are in reverse chronological order.
August 2011 - edited & extended January 2023
Our Treasures Toy Tea Sets
14 August 2011
Carlton Ware World visit to Torquay
We do like to be beside the seaside....
We do like to be beside the seaside....
After being told by my CW mad husband Tony that he had booked us on the CWW trip to Torquay I was aghast and my reply was ‘I don’t think I can go, Torquay is too far for a weekend (we live in the northwest).
How wrong could I be? We both had a great time! We managed to make some purchases, eat lots yummy food, not to mention drink plenty of naughty wine, enjoy the company of good friends and meet a couple of new ones.Wow all that in a weekend. Who could ask for more?
If you would like to read more of Angela's review of the weekend and what all got up to click here. ❑
How wrong could I be? We both had a great time! We managed to make some purchases, eat lots yummy food, not to mention drink plenty of naughty wine, enjoy the company of good friends and meet a couple of new ones.Wow all that in a weekend. Who could ask for more?
If you would like to read more of Angela's review of the weekend and what all got up to click here. ❑
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28 July 2011
Annual Staffordshire
Get-together 25 Sept 2011
As always, we work hard to make sure that our events are enjoyable and relaxing and especially at our annual get-together in the Potteries.
After the success of our guest speaker Eric Knowles, we followed up with another BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Will Farmer, whose passion is twentieth century ceramics.
As always, this our premier event was a great success. ❑
Get-together 25 Sept 2011
As always, we work hard to make sure that our events are enjoyable and relaxing and especially at our annual get-together in the Potteries.
After the success of our guest speaker Eric Knowles, we followed up with another BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Will Farmer, whose passion is twentieth century ceramics.
As always, this our premier event was a great success. ❑
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3 July 2011
Ebay and - All the (World) Round
With its pros and cons we all have a love hate relationship with eBay. Aside from this, it is also a useful research tool because it can help solve some of the mysteries of the past.
Terry Wise, our archivist, called to say that he had spotted an Hibiscus blushware cruet in a silver plated frame. Its Carlton Ware backstamp was the All the Round mark whose significance has always been an enigma to me. I guess that, with a globe at its centre, the backstamp is probably meant to read All the World Round or All Round the World. Until now, this suggested that Wiltshaw & Robinson, the makers of Carlton Ware, may have used the mark on ware that it exported during the early years, but no!
The vendor provided good pictures, not only of backstamps, but also the marks of the maker of the metal frame. Lo and behold, alongside the makers initials of JR & Sons, the All the Round mark was also stamped into the electroplated metal stand.
The seller informed us that the maker was John Round & Sons of Sheffield, who used All the Round as a trade mark from the 1880s. The maker was highly regarded and particularly well known for producing high quality cutlery.
Usually metal fitments used with ceramics were bought in by a pottery, which would then sell it complete with appropriate ware. In this instance it appears to be the other way round - no pun intended - with CW supplying John Round, who would then market the ensemble. Alternatively, there could have been a greater association than usual between between W&R and JR & Sons.
I think we can safely say that the All the Round backstamp is not a Carlton Ware mark but the trade mark of John Round & Sons, even though the Carlton Ware name appears beneath in an arc.
Usually metal fitments used with ceramics were bought in by a pottery, which would then sell it complete with appropriate ware. In this instance it appears to be the other way round - no pun intended - with CW supplying John Round, who would then market the ensemble. Alternatively, there could have been a greater association than usual between between W&R and JR & Sons.
I think we can safely say that the All the Round backstamp is not a Carlton Ware mark but the trade mark of John Round & Sons, even though the Carlton Ware name appears beneath in an arc.
Retailers and other companies names often appeared with a Carlton Ware backstamp, though in most cases this is more obvious than here. Many thanks to Terry for spotting the cruet and to the seller for providing such detailed and accurate information - we wish this was the case with all eBayers! (The cruet sold for £127 including P&P.) © Harvey Pettit 2011. ❑
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Saturday 4 June 2011
Carlton Ware World Racing Supplement!
Carlton House - its the favourite
Carlton House - its the favourite
After its sale in 1989, when Carlton Ware's Copeland Street works was turned into workshops and student accommodation, it was renamed Carlton House. Today, its namesake, a gift to The Queen from Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai, was favourite to win "The Derby".
Inevitably, Carlton Ware reflected the popularity of the sport of kings by including a model of a racehorse and jockey in its Heraldic China range.
Retailers would sometimes paint the name of a horse to the base. Since this was done in oil paint, often the lettering has partly rubbed off and so difficult to read. The lettering could be crudely done, depending on the skill of the retailer or assistant.
The jockey's racing silks were decorated in a wide range of colours. How accurate Carlton Ware was with these I don't know. Since the colours were registered by an owner or trainer it might be possible to identify them, even though they are from eighty years, or more, ago. On the right are the Queen's silks. The jacket has a purple body with scarlet sleeves and gold braiding.
Carlton House came in third at the Epsom Derby - I should have advised you to back it each way, so that you could buy another piece of Carlton Ware with the winnings! Hindsight is a wonderful thing. ❑ © Harvey Pettit 2011
Carlton House came in third at the Epsom Derby - I should have advised you to back it each way, so that you could buy another piece of Carlton Ware with the winnings! Hindsight is a wonderful thing. ❑ © Harvey Pettit 2011
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Tuesday 12:13 PM 31 May 2011
The Titanic & Carlton Ware
Sinking, not Launching! With apologies to Stevie Smith.
Sinking, not Launching! With apologies to Stevie Smith.
Exactly 100 years ago today the Titanic's hull was launched from Belfast's Harland & Wolff's shipyard. But it was, of course, her sinking 11 months later for which she is remembered.
This was commemorated by Carlton Ware on some of its Heraldic China shapes; three examples are shown here but there will be more. They have become highly sought after. ❑
This was commemorated by Carlton Ware on some of its Heraldic China shapes; three examples are shown here but there will be more. They have become highly sought after. ❑
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Carlton Ahoy - Ahem!
Following the nautical theme, Chris sent us the picture of what he thought might be an unusual Carlton Ware backstamp featuring a square rigged sailing boat and asked if it was from CW's stable.
He found it on the hexagonal pot on the right. Its decoration is in the Aesthetic style, as indicated by the "bamboo" band and the asymmetric design, which was popular in the 1880s.
He found it on the hexagonal pot on the right. Its decoration is in the Aesthetic style, as indicated by the "bamboo" band and the asymmetric design, which was popular in the 1880s.
We can tell Chris that this pot was made by William Alsager Adderly, a Longton based pottery (1876-1905) to which the WAA initials on the mark refer. Carlton is most likely a pattern name and has no connection with W&R. Carlton was also used as a pattern or shape name by other potteries, and can so easily lead to being wrongly associated with our favourite pottery. ❑
© HP 2011.
© HP 2011.
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Friday 20 May 2011
Crinoline Lady Napkin rings
Julie Ann from Australia wrote to ask if we could supply any information on Carlton Ware Crinoline Lady napkin rings. We can tell Julie Ann that three different types are known to us, all introduced in the 1930s. They were part of what the pottery promoted as COLOURED WARE, a wide range of amusing novelties.
Carlton Ware is one of the most significant potteries of its time because it consistently reflected popular taste and styles of a period; the Crinoline Lady napkins rings are good examples. During the 1930s and 40s there was a proliferation of historical films such as The Scarlet Pimpernel of 1934, Madame Du Barry of 1934 and Nell Gwyn of 1935. It is not unreasonable to suggest that the napkin rings were inspired by the popularity of these period costume dramas.
The first and earliest napkin ring portrays a demure figure in a bonnet and holding a posy. We guess that this was introduced in the early 1930s, in which case it will be by Violet Elmer. Four different decorations are shown below but there are bound to be more. This model was also made as a bell.
The second napkin ring, shown below, has a more elaborate crinoline with four tiers of ruffles and the bonnet has a wider brim. This one, by Violet Elmer, was introduced about 1935 and allocated shape number 1138.
This model was first available as a bell in 1934, with shape number 1012. To date, seven different colour combinations are known and it is possible that there may be more.
This model was first available as a bell in 1934, with shape number 1012. To date, seven different colour combinations are known and it is possible that there may be more.
The third crinoline lady napkin ring was called DU BARRY and was introduced c.1938 and given the shape number 1770. The picture on the right shows a poster from the popular 1934 film of the same name.
This model was devised by Rene Pemberton; at this time she had just taken over from Miss Elmer, who had left Carlton Ware to marry. Two decorations are shown below but there may be others. A DU BARRY cruet was also introduced a little earlier.
This model was devised by Rene Pemberton; at this time she had just taken over from Miss Elmer, who had left Carlton Ware to marry. Two decorations are shown below but there may be others. A DU BARRY cruet was also introduced a little earlier.
In her early work for Carlton Ware some of Miss Elmer's teaware designs featured the garment. Two of these, Afternoon Stroll 4878 and Orchard Walk 4609, are shown below on the elegant CHINESE shape cup, which was used by Birks Rawlins before Cuthbert Wiltshaw bought their Vine Street works in 1928.
Miss Elmer's VICTORIAN LADY and JACOBEAN FIGURES use a similar theme on the highly decorated and expensive Best Ware.
Whatever your pocket, Carlton Ware embraced the Zeitgeist of the time, making it accessible to all, and with its COLOURED WARE added an amusing touch. If you would like to see other COLOURED WARE napkin rings, including more crinoline ladies, then visit Nicholnack Art in Pottery.
© Harvey Pettit 2011. ❑
We would like to thank Derek & Jane Towns, who run www.carltonchina.co.uk, for the images of the bone china teaware.
Whatever your pocket, Carlton Ware embraced the Zeitgeist of the time, making it accessible to all, and with its COLOURED WARE added an amusing touch. If you would like to see other COLOURED WARE napkin rings, including more crinoline ladies, then visit Nicholnack Art in Pottery.
© Harvey Pettit 2011. ❑
We would like to thank Derek & Jane Towns, who run www.carltonchina.co.uk, for the images of the bone china teaware.
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Thursday 12 May 2011
Monogrammed Marvels
Scottish links?
Scottish links?
Charlie from California sent us the pictures of a Carlton Ware monogrammed vase, shown left and below. The monogram is Q. Mc.G, followed by 1939, which is likely to be the date. The naturalistic hand painting is skilfully executed.
We have featured similar items in the past calling them monogrammed mysteries because little is known about them, except that they were made but not decorated by Carlton Ware. Charlie is curious about the artists who painted them and asks if we can throw any more light on them.
We have featured similar items in the past calling them monogrammed mysteries because little is known about them, except that they were made but not decorated by Carlton Ware. Charlie is curious about the artists who painted them and asks if we can throw any more light on them.
Over time, a pattern has emerged that might be a clue to their pedigree. I have noticed that many names and monograms appear to be of Scottish origin. The clearest example is the Scottish artist Elizabeth Mary Watt, who uses EMW on some of the blanks that she bought from Carlton Ware and other potteries.
The observation leads me to suggest that for some of these out-decorated wares there may be a connection with one or more Scottish Art School, which could have bought in blanks for their students to decorate, the Glasgow School of Art being a possibility. Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, Edinburgh School of Art and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee are others. This suggested link with an Art School would explain why the styles and quality of decoration are so varied. To see more Monogrammed Mysteries click here. We have just added another fourteen.
Hopefully, the information that has been gleaned about these wares may lead to one of the artists contacting us and thereby reveal more clues about these pots. If you have information for us . © Harvey Pettit 2011 ❑
Observations provided by The Cochrane & Pettit Archive of Carlton Ware.
Hopefully, the information that has been gleaned about these wares may lead to one of the artists contacting us and thereby reveal more clues about these pots. If you have information for us . © Harvey Pettit 2011 ❑
Observations provided by The Cochrane & Pettit Archive of Carlton Ware.
© Carlton Ware World 2011. All rights reserved.