Carlton Ware Ltd

Counterfeits

Since the close of the Stoke factory in 1989 a large number of counterfeits and replicas have appeared carrying a bogus backstamp some of which are 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 Carlton Ware backstamp which were never produced by Carlton Ware such as two female figures and a mug in the shape of a liquorice allsort.

photo courtesy: Shannon Depriest

CARLTONS
FANTASIA
WARE
BURSLAM

Carlton Ware did make a range or ware called FANTASIA which was a luster ware decorated with flowers and gold - it looked nothing like this plaque.

There is a large amount of ware, plates, bowls, biscuit barrels featuring fairies.

Although the manufacturer has not copied or faked a genuine Carlton Ware piece they have used the Carlton name and the pattern name 'Fantasia' to give an association with Carlton.

Carton Ware factory was in Stoke, not in Burslem - note incorrect spelling as Burslam (with an A)