Carlton Ware 1890-1930s
Although Carlton Ware has been steadily growing in popularity recently, many people are unaware that the factory was established in 1890 and produced a wide variety of wares.
[ 20thC Ware ]
[ Wiltshaw and Robinson ] [ The Great War
]
[ Tutankamun Ware
] [ Script Mark Backstamp ] [ Counterfeits
]
Over the past decade the antique and collectors' market has become more
appreciative of the wares of the 20th century. The value of pottery designed by
Clarice Cliff , Charlotte Rhead and Susie Cooper has greatly increased and
prices often exceed those of 18th century porcelain produced by Worcester,
Chelsea or Bow. Considering the age of the pots, the hardships for the 18th
century potter and the materials used, this does not make a lot of sense.
 |
Centre: Wagon Wheels. Centre left: Fan pattern. Centre right: Lightning Pattern |
Art deco
pieces, c. 1927-Second World War,
although some patterns were still available
once restrictions had been lifted after the War.
Recently there has been a steady increase in
popularity of another, predominantly 20th century, manufacturer, Wiltshaw
& Robinson. Few people realise that the factory, better known today by
its trade name, CarIton Ware, was established back in 1890 and they are amazed
at the diversity of the wares when shown a selection of pieces made at the
Carlton Works. In terms of variety of patterns and shapes CarIton Ware was one
of the most prolific companies in the Potteries. Because of this pieces can be
found for as little as £5 or, at the other end of the scale, a good Art Deco
design will see a collector parting with as much as £4,000.
Wiltshaw and Robinson
back stamp
One family owned CarIton Ware for more than 75 years and was responsible for its
success by being involved in the day to day running of the company. Earlier
generations had owned, run or worked in various potteries and were related to
the owners of other china works. It came as no great surprise when yet another
Wiltshaw decided to try his hand at establishing a pottery.
James Frederick Wiltshaw had worked in a managerial role for his father, Thomas, who was the managing director of James Macintyre &Co Ltd at the Washington Works, Burslem, until his death in 1887. Three years later, in 1890, James founded Wiltshaw and Robinson in partnership with two brothers, James Alcock and William Herbert Robinson. They took over the relatively modern Copeland Street Works in Stoke-on-Trent that had previously been occupied by a series of (unsuccessful) partnerships whose production had included parian statuary, china and earthenware.
Shortly after the turn of the century, following the success of crested china
produced by their near neighbour, W.H.Goss,
they introduced souvenir Heraldic Ware using bone china because of the detail
required on these small pieces. Later, at the beginning of the 1930s, after a
long association, they took over Birks, Rawlins & Co Ltd, a bone china
manufacturing company and this enabled CarIton Ware to produce fine bone china
for tea, coffee and dessert wares as well as figures of women and animals.
Harold Taylor Robinson, son of James Alcock, replaced his uncle, William, as a
director of the company and this was reflected by the change of name to Wiltshaw,
Robinson & Son Ltd. With hindsight of the subsequent business dealings of
the Robinsons it seems inevitable that a split would occur. James Wiltshaw
became sole proprietor of the company in 1911 amidst much rancour having bought
out his partners. He proclaimed this in his advertising of the day by stating
that he was now the sole proprietor of Wiltshaw & Robinson Ltd.
It was during the Great War that other designs were introduced which reflected
the nation's mood, including a matt black range with the addition of various
pink blossoms or fabulous birds set within a cartouche. Another sombre design,
CarIton Cloisonne Ware, bearing an elaborate backstamp, was also available and
imitated Japanese cloisonné metalwork by the application of a gilt transfer
print over underglaze hand enamelling. Also produced at this time was a range of
chintz patterns of which little is known and even chintz collectors seem to be
unaware of their existence.
A tragic accident at Stoke Railway Station in 1918 resulted in the death of
James Wiltshaw. His son, Frederick Cuthbert, who served in the Royal Flying
Corps, was allowed compassionate leave from the war to enable him to put the
company's affairs in order. The Armistice was signed, he never returned to
service and became the head of the Company.
In his early twenties and younger than his father when he founded the company, Frederick Cuthbert Wiltshaw allowed his designers to produce wares reflecting the very latest fashions. Bright lustrous glazes were introduced in a range of twelve colours, some with and some without a pattern, depending on the price you wanted to pay. Created to compete with the expensive, fashionable, highly fired true lustre ware, the process used a much lower, therefore cheaper, firing temperature and they were careful enough to use the term 'lustrous' in their advertising. Novelty lines such as a cruet of hen, cock and chick were created and also decorated with these lustrous colours. CarIton Armand Lustre Ware was the exception to this rule and was a particularly elaborate and expensive design based on one of five or six marbled or mottled lustrous colour grounds. There are a number of patterns appearing on Armand Lustre Ware which have attracted a growing circle of collectors. The backstamp shows two fish in water encircled by the name and, at the time of writing, the meaning of this or the origin of the name is unknown.
The interest across the world in the discovery of Tutankamun's tomb in the mid
1920s led to a great variety of commemorative ware and, not to be outdone,
CarIton Ware offered a range of bowls, vases and jugs showing images of Egyptian
Art based on designs found within the tomb. Decorated with both gilt transfer
prints and on-glaze enamels, they are highly prized today and can command some
of the highest prices paid for CarIton Ware.
A selection of Tutankhamun pattern pieces, 1924-27
It was not long after Boulton's appointment that a new backstamp was created by
modifying a cursive style that had been used previously and is better known to
collectors today as the 'Script Mark'. The change was probably intended to
acknowledge a more modern time with the flapper girls, the infancy of air travel
and the decadence of the Art Deco period. The patterns, colours and shapes of
this period are as revered by collectors today as they were by their original
owners. They show the fanciful designs such as Red Devil, Sketching Bird or
River Fish; fairytale images such as Fantasia, Fairy or New Flies; jazzy Art
Deco geometric designs appear with flashes and bolts such as Lightning, Zig Zag
or jazz; ziggurats and Fan, Egyptian Fan or Rainbow Fans; exploding images such
as Floral Comets, Wagon Wheels or Explosions.
Script Mark backstamp
As a reaction to these highly glazed wares, matt glazes became fashionable and
CarIton Ware, as ever, was in the front line offering, amongst others, a range
which they called 'Handcraft'. As the name suggests, all patterns were free-hand
designs, mainly floral, some geometric and would normally have a blue Script
Mark backstamp with 'Handcraft' and 'Trade Mark, Made in England' underneath.
Exotic designs include Russian, Metropolis and Aurora; floral inspired are
Orchid, Stellata and Floribunda; rurally idyllic are Awakening, Tree &
Swallow and Garden. Designs of a similar nature can be found that do not carry
the Handcraft mark and some designs do have high glaze added to part of the
pattern as if they were trying to be all things to all men.
Since the close of the Stoke factory in 1989 a large number of counterfeits have
appeared carrying a bogus backstamp that is indistinguishable from the genuine
one. The original date of manufacture of virtually all the fakes is post 1950,
the only exception with an early Crown Mark is the Hangman's Tankard with the
Devil handle. This tankard was never made with any other mark than the Script
Mark. The Guinness advertising range including toucans and the small animal
figures are the prime target and at one time were seen more often than the
originals. Other counterfeits include a small golfing figure, a Babycham chamois
and a small puritan mug. Invariably the quality of decoration is the giveaway
but of course, ideally, you would have had to handle the genuine item to be able
to draw comparisons. There has been the odd occurrence of various shapes
appearing with a CarIton Ware backstamp which were never produced by CarIton
Ware such as two female figures and a mug in the shape of a liquorice allsort.
Helen and Keith Martin are one of the leading
Carlton Ware dealers in the UK.
Tel +44 (0)1474 853630
Fax +44 (0)1474 854480
Email: StClere@AOL.com
PO Box 161, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 6GA, England
Adapted from an article in
Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks