Birks, Rawlins & Co (Ltd)

Birks, Rawlins & Co (Ltd)

Location and period of operation:

Birks, Rawlins & Co

Stoke

1900

1933

China manufacturer at the Vine Pottery, Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent

The Vine Pottery was founded by Lawrence Arthur Birks and Charles Frederick Goodfellow in Stoke-upon-Trent in 1895 and operated as L.A. Birks & Co.
Beginning with small scale production of fine bone china tableware, the company fortunes were transformed in 1901 when Edmund G. Reuter was employed as designer. He introduced an ivory porcelain with middle eastern decoration known as 'Persindo Porcelain'.
Many new designers were then attracted to the firm resulting in numerous international awards and even royal patronage from Queen Mary.
In 1907 Birks, Rawlins & Co. were listed as "China and Savoy Heraldic China Manufacturers"
The 1914 edition of Whitaker's Red Book of Commerce records Birks, Rawlins & Co as China and porcelain manufacturers with 130 employees. Specialities: china, tea, breakfast and dessert ware; "Savoy" heraldic china, Royal Mercian porcelain, Persindo art porcelain.
Troubled times in the 1920s after the National Strike and the Wall Street Crash led ultimately to financial difficulty and by 1928 the business had been acquired by Wiltshaw & Robinson of the at the Carlton Works in Copeland Street, Stoke.
Attempts were made to improve the fortunes of Birks, Rawlins & Co - a new mark 'The Original Birks China' was introduced in 1928 along with a new formulation together with the 'Carlton' trade name.
The attempts to revive the business was unsuccessful and it was soon merged with Wiltshaw & Robinson at the Carlton Works, and the Vine Pottery closed in 1933.

Previously: L A Birks & Co.

Porcelain and pâte-sur-pâte by Lawrence Birks
c.1920
in the collection of the V&A

Pâte-sur-pâte literally means 'paste on paste' and involves the laborious method of imposing liquid porcelain onto a porcelain body freehand, in a process of building up numerous layers that are then chiselled and brushed back to form a sculpted multi-layered effect. The finished piece is then fired and the result is an exquisite translucent glass-like form on the vessel with very fine detail.

In France pâte-sur-pâte was developed by the Sèvres porcelain factory whilst, in England, Minton employed the technique to great success.

Lawrence Arthur Birks worked 22 years for Minton, apprenticed to the great pâte-sur-pâte artist Louis Marc Emmanuel Solon.
He left Minton in 1894 establishing L. A. Birks & Co.; 1900 Birks Rawlins & Co., The Vine Pottery, off London Road, Stoke-on-Trent.

The pottery mainly produced fine bone china tablewares, but Birks continued to produce pâte-sur-pâte when production allowed. This work required a high level of skill and Birks' pieces were described by the Pottery Gazette in 1902 as examples of the most difficult class of fine art ceramics comparable to the wares produced by Solon.

miniature jug in the Imari style

- more on Imari ware -

B R & Co

c.1900-10

photos courtesy: Shari Barber-Bailey

From 1901 Edmund G. Reuter was employed by Birks, Rawlins & Co as designer. He had previously been employed for around twenty years by Mintons Ltd.

After a few years at Birks, Rawlins & Co, Reuter introduced an ivory porcelain with repetitive floral designs in a Middle Eastern inspired decoration which was called 'Persindo Porcelain'.

Persindo
B. R. & Co
Porcelain
Stoke on Trent
England

bowl in the ivory porcelain known as 'Persindo Porcelain'

every-day plate by Birks, Rawlins & Co

stylish contemporary trio

Savoy Crest China

This crested ware became very popular for a period.
Savoy Crest China was intended to compete with the successful business of W. H. Goss.

in 1907 Birks, Rawlins & Co. were listed as
"China and Savoy Heraldic China Manufacturers"

small novelty figures were produced for sale at
the seaside and other tourist areas

mark: Birks Rawlins & Co Stoke-on-Trent
along with a vine leaf and cluster of grapes

cup and plate in the 'Springtime' pattern
introduced in 1930

Springtime was first advertised the Pottery Gazette in June 1930 withthe accompanying text:

"Improvements have been made to the body of the china to bring it up to the exacting demands of present-day standards.

This much having been done, it has now been decided to alter the trade mark of the productions of the Vine Pottery, which are henceforth to be back-stamped 'Carlton China'"

Porcelain crested ware mug, made in England by
Birks, Rawlins & Co (Ltd).
It bears the crest of Much Wenlock, which contains
an image of a stained glass church window.

Stoke-on-Trent
BR & Co
England
Savoy China

back mark on the above mug

It's a long long way to Tipperary
World War I Patriotic China Irish Connaught Rangers cup

Patriotic China
BR & Co
Stoke-on-Trent

The Registration number dates to 1890 - however the song (It's A Long Way To Tipperary) apparently wasn't penned until 1909 and made famous by the Irish, Connaught Rangers when marching through Boulogne in 1914, so manufacture was probably c. 1914 +

plate bearing the mark...

The Original
Birks China
1895-1928
Stoke on Trent
Made in England.

this tea set (all of the same pattern) carries two marks
some pieces are marked 'Savoy China' and some 'Carlton Ware'

Carlton Ware
Savoy China

Birks, Rawins & Co produced bone china tableware under the trade name 'Savoy China'
c.1928 they altered the trade name to 'Carlton China'

"Improvements have been made to the body of the china to bring it up to the exacting demands of present-day standards. This much having been done, it has now been decided to alter the trade mark of of the productions of the Vine Pottery, which are henceforth to be back-stamped 'Carton China'"

Article in the pottery Gazette. June 1930

Initials & Marks used on ware for identification:

B R & CO

BIRKS RAWLINS & Co

Trade names:

PERSINDO PORCELAIN

SAVOY CHINA
(introduced c.1910 until c.1928)

ROSEATE PORCELAIN
(introduced c.1917)

ROYAL MERCIAN PORCELAIN
(introduced c.1914)

CARLTON CHINA
(introduced c.1928 onwards)

PATRIOTIC CHINA

B R & Co c.1900-10 mark based on that of the previous company - L A Birks & Co.	B R & Co Stoke-on-Trent England c.1900-10	Birks Rawlins & Co Stoke-on-Trent c.1910+

Stoke-on-Trent B R & Co England Savoy China c.1910+	Roseate Porcelain Birks Rawlins & Co Stoke-on-Trent c.1917+	Bone China Birks Rawlins & Co Stoke-on-Trent England c.1917+

The original
Birks China
1895-1928
Stoke on Trent
Made in England

1928-33

the date 1895 was the original company L.A. Birks & Co.

Attempts were made to improve the fortunes of Birks, Rawlins & Co - a new mark 'The Original Birks China' was introduced in 1928 along with a new formulation together with the 'Carlton' trade name.
The attempts to revive the business was unsuccessful and it was soon merged with Wiltshaw & Robinson at the Carlton Works, and the Vine Pottery closed in 1933.

Crested China

Aldwych China

Crested ware with the name "Aldwych China" was retailed by Julian Joseph Samuels who was a picture postcard dealer in London in the early 20th century.

Samuels had shops in London's tourist areas along the Strand as well as on Piccadilly and Regent Street. The shop also sold picture postcards, stationary, toys and small souvenirs including crested ware.

The name Aldwych was taken from a new crescent street laid out on the Strand n the early 20th century. The new street was close to Samuels' shop.

Aldwych China was made at various times by Birks Rawlins & Co, Wiltshaw & Robinson and Arkinstall and Sons. All these companies became part of J A Robinson & Sons Ltd.

B R & Co
Stoke-on-Trent
Aldwych China

W & R
Stoke-on-Trent
Aldwych China

this mark appears on a model of a
1st World War tank produced by
Wiltshaw & Robinson

The Aldwych trade name was little used by Arkinstall & Sons.

The Canadian War Museum records a porcelain figurine with commemorative dress and insignia which is marked "Registration Applied For; A & S Stoke-on-Trent; Aldwych China".

This window display from J J Samuels' shop at 371 Strand, London shows a selection of typical crested ware; including the Cenotaph and Marble Arch in London also figurines, vases and horses.

The picture was taken c. 1900-1910 and is part of the
J J Samuels Ltd photographic collection now held by the Historic England Collection.

Birks China

This ware was produced exclusively by Birks Rawlins & Co. for sale under their own name

In 1928, Wiltshaw and Robinson acquired Birks, Rawlins & Co after they encountered had financial difficulties.

Shortly after the acquisition, a new trademark, "The Original Birks China," was registered in an attempt to capitalise on the established reputation. Birks Rawlins re-branded some of their existing patterns (such as Willow pattern ware) and introduced some crested ware shapes from Wiltshaw and Robinson and Arkinstall and Son.

Arcadian model (no. 120) of a
pawn chess piece

a model in the Arkinstall and Sons Arcadian Arms China range but with a "Birks China" mark

The original
Birks China
1895-1928
Stoke on Trent
Made in England

Bow China

This ware was produced exclusively by Birks Rawlins & Co. for sale under their own name.

It appears that the models produced with this name were mostly WWI miniatures but a few decorative household items were produced.

featuring the crest of Newquay,
in the form of a model of globe vase

Bow China
Stoke on Trent
England

Caledonia Heraldic China

Crested ware was retailed by a Scottish wholesaler under the name "Caledonia Heraldic China".

It appears that such pieces were made by several crested china manufacturers, including Birks Rawlins.

Because only the Caledonia Heraldic China mark appears on the ware it is not easy to identify the manufacturer - sometimes the mould shape or stock numbers help.

The Arms of Gillingham, Kent

The arms were officially granted in April 1904, the year after Gillingham's incorporation as a Borough.

Willow Art
China
Longton

The crest of Huntingdon - a market town in Cambridgeshire

Caledonia Heraldic
China

This small jug, with a double loop handle and ribbed top, was made by Hewitt & Leadbeater who were important manufacturers of crested china and used the trade name "Willow Art China"

This jug, using the same body, was made by Birks Rawins for the retailer Caledonia Heraldic China. The business of Hewitt & Leadbeater and Hewitt Brothers was taken acquired by Harold Taylor Robinson about 1925. There was a sharing of moulds between Hewitt Bros, Wiltshaw & Robinson and Birks Rawlins.

Diamond China

Crested ware produced by Birks Rawlins for a London wholesaler - H. M. & Co Ltd.

This ware should not be confused with Diamond China produced by the unrelated Blyth Porcelain Co Ltd.

Diamond China
British Made

Diamond China
British Made
H M & Co Ltd
London

Empire China

Produced by Birks Rawlins for an unknown retailer (suggested to be William Ritchie & Son Ltd). Few examples are known.

This ware should not be confused with Empire Ware produced by the unrelated Empire Porcelain Co.

Empire China
British Made
A E X Ltd

Endor China

Crested ware thought to have produced by Birks Rawlins for an unidentified retailer. Few examples are known.

small crested ware vase with the arms of Birmingham, England

Endor China
England

William Ritchie & Son Ltd

Around 1843 William Richie had established a bookshop in St. Andrew's Square, Edinburgh. Later his business centered on Elder Street also in Edinburgh. He was a keen photographer and started to publish picture postcards, heraldic postcards and Christmas cards.

By 1892 William Ritchie & Sons were Wholesale Stationers and Printers. As the business grew they stocked fancy goods, toys and small souvenirs including crested ware.

When William died in 1900 his sons continued the business and in 1901 William Ritchie and Sons Limited was registered, with capital of £60,000, to acquire the business of that name, wholesale stationers.

- William Richie & Sons - Graces Guide

Crested ware: At least 146 different pieces of crested ware have been recorded. Much of the ware was marketed before the First World War and seems to have ceased in the mid-twenties - Peter S Goodfellow.

Most ware was sold under the "PORCELLE" trade name with the initials W R & S in a shield. William Ritchie & Sons also used "MERMAID" as a trade mark and perhaps "EMPIRE CHINA"

logo used on picture postcards produced by William Richie & Sons - the same shield mark was used on most of the crested ware they retailed.

Porcelle
W R & S
British Manufacture

Most crested ware was sold under the "PORCELLE" trade name with the initials W R & S in a shield.

MERMAID
British Make
W R & S

William Ritchie & Sons used the Mermaid trade mark - Birks Rawlins & Co possible produced some of this crested ware, however there is no definite proof.

Empire China
British Made
A E X Ltd

Produced by Birks Rawlins for an unknown retailer (suggested to be William Ritchie & Sons Ltd). Few examples are known.

Flags of the Allies
War 1914
United we Stand

W R & S L
Excelsior China
Made in England

Mark on crested ware with the initials
W R & S L in a Stafford Knot

- possibly William Ritchie & Sons Ltd

photos courtesy: Stuart Bell

- click the map for more information on the Vine Pottery Works -

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks