• The Green family had been manufacturing pottery at the Minerva Works from as early as 1833. 

• By 1876 the brothers Thomas Allen Green and Spencer Green were operating as T.A. & S. Green.

• In 1889, still under the control of the two Green brothers, the company started trading as the Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co. 

• In 1903 it became a limited company under the name Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co. Ltd. 

• By the turn of the century, the company were producing a wide range of bone china products including dinner ware, tea and coffee ware, miniatures, vases, cutlery handles, door furniture and floral china baskets. In the late 1920's Crown Staffordshire pioneered the large scale production of china floral ornaments and china costume jewellery for which they became famous.

• Both before and during World War II the company produced badged ware for the canteens of the armed forces, including the British and Canadian navy. 

• During the war they were designated as a nucleus firm (1941) which meant that they were allowed to continue trading in their own premises and, although Barlows of Longton were concentrated upon the Minerva Works for the duration of the war, no earthenware was made, only bone china.

• They also produced canteen ware for the British armed forces. 

• In June 1945 Crown Staffordshire were granted a licence to produce 'fancies' for the home market. 

• In 1946 a factory in Heron Cross was purchased to allow increased postwar production of decorated wares, primarily for export. The bottle ovens there were replaced by tunnel ovens.

• In 1948 the name of the company was changed to Crown Staffordshire China Co. Ltd. The business continued to be owned and operated by the Green family. Two subsidiary companies were established, in Canada and America, to control distribution abroad. 

• In the 1950s three quarters of total production was exported. Agents were employed in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Belgium.

• In 1952 the Crown Staffordshire China Co. Ltd. was described by the Pottery Gazette and Glass Trades Review as the largest producer of china flowers in the Potteries as well as producing many figure and bird studies. Over 200 people were employed in the factory's decorating department.

• In 1951 the company officers were recorded as: Chairman of directors - G. D. Green; Directors & works managers - S. Sinclair Green and F. Green; Director: R. A. Green; Art director and Decorating manager - J. T. Jones. 

• The company continued to be owned and operated by the Green family until 1965 when the company was sold to Semart Importing Co. based in New Jersey, USA. Semart was an importer of tableware and at the same time as buying Crown Staffordshire China Co also purchased Wedgwood & Co.

• Semart continued to use the Crown Staffordshire name until the company became part of the (Josiah) Wedgwood Group around 1973-4. 

• Wedgwood used the Crown Staffordshire name on specialty products until around 1985 when production of Coalport ware (also part of the Wedgwood Group) was moved to the Minerva Works and the Crown Staffordshire name disappeared. 

Some information courtesy: Stoke-on-Trent Potteries Museum data sheet and 'A Handbook of British Pottery Manufacturers 1900-2010' - Michael Perry. 

More on Crown Staffordshire Ware 

The works flag of the Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co., Ltd., Fenton, floated at half-mast to signalise the passing on Sept. 27 [1913], at the Longton Cottage Hospital, in the prime of life, of Mr. Alfred Spencer Green, one of the firm’s esteemed managing directors. The deceased had not been enjoying really good health for some time past, but the beginning of the end was marked when he was recently seized with an attack of pleurisy, followed, before he could quite overcome it, by complications calling for his admission to the Longton Cottage Hospital. An operation was considered necessary and was successfully performed, after which, however, his strength was not sufficient to sustain him, and the end came.

Mr. Alfred Spencer Green was the eldest son of the late Mr. Spencer Green, who was himself a manufacturer and a former chairman of the old Urban District Council. The whole of the deceased’s business career, extending in all over some 28 years, was devoted to the Minerva Works, many years of his service being spent in the capacity of works manager, and more recently (since 1903) he occupied the important position of managing director. 

He was a gentleman who was not satisfied with mere rule of thumb in his direction of the pottery, but always endeavoured to solve his difficulties and press forward from a scientific point of view, recognising that principles would remain when recipes were lost and forgotten. With this end in view he was for many years an ardent student of the Pottery Classes held under the auspices of the Staffordshire County Council, and since 1905 enjoyed membership in the English Ceramic Society, in whose proceedings he was always enthusiastically interested.

Next to the relatives of the deceased who are left to sorrow his loss, perhaps none will lament him more than the workpeople whom he so considerately directed, for he was ever reasonable and patient in his bearing, and worked with the whole of his staff as a colleague, although he was in reality their director. The pensive memories occasioned amongst the workpeople by his sad demise may perhaps best be gathered by the course of events. Over eighty of the male employees were present at the interment to witness the last sad rites, and the workpeople as a body contributed liberally towards the floral tributes. Not satisfied with this, we learn that a deputation waited upon the deceased's brother directors and craved permission to contribute to a more lasting testimonial of their sympathy.

The deceased will not only be revered in the Potteries which he made his home, he will be sympathetically recalled by many of the London buyers, and more especially by dealers in the provinces, with whom at one time he came directly into touch, although he never preferred sustained travelling.

We extend our condolences to his relatives, and in a special degree to his younger brothers, Mr. Samuel A. Green who acted with him as managing director, and Mr. Douglas Green, upon whose shoulders his mantle will fall in carrying on uninterruptedly the business of the Grown Staffordshire Porcelain Co., Ltd.

The Pottery Gazette, 1st November 1913

Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co
Minerva Works, Fenton, Staffs

Art Porcelain 
Vases and Works of Art in China
Tea, Breakfast, and Desert Ware in Japan, Satsuma, 
and Ivory Decorations

The proprietors, T. A. & S. Green, desire it to be known that, although the above china is of the finest description, and the works not to be surpassed, the prices are such as to meet the requirements of the large middle-class body of the public; and the hope American and Colonial friends will call and see the samples at their London rooms, 25 Ely Place, or at the works.

Mr. T.A. Green always in London

Advert from 1889 Keates Directory

courtesy of - R. K. Henrywood, Staffordshire Potters

Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co
(Proprietors, T. A. & S. Green)
Minerva Works, Fenton, Staffs
   Tea, Breakfast, and Desert Ware in Japan, Satsuma, 
and Ivory Decorations

London Show Rooms : 49, Hatton Garden

Advert from 1896 Pottery Gazette Diary, 1896

The listing in the Directory of Manufacturers for the 1896 Pottery Gazette Diary reads:

 

"Green, T. A. & S., Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co., china, Minerva Works, Park-st."

'Fine China Flowers by Crown Staffordshire'
Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co Ltd
Minerva Works
Fenton
Stoke-on-Trent

Advert from 1947 Pottery Gazette Reference Book 

Advert from 1956 Pottery Gazette Reference Book 

photos courtesy: Clive Loader 

The gilding and floral bouquets of these cups & saucers are the same pattern elements used in the vase shown on the left.  

mark with the crown device and the word 
"Staffordshire" surrounded by a laurel wreath

likely 1889-1891

Cobalt Blue Borders: The cup and saucer have a rich cobalt blue band, providing a bold contrast to the white porcelain.

Floral Bouquets: Delicate and colorful hand-painted floral bouquets occupy the central white areas of both the cup and the saucer.

Lavish Gilding: Intricate gold gilt patterning extensively highlights the design, particularly within the cobalt blue borders and accentuating the handle and rim of the cup, contributing to its luxurious and ornate appearance.

This A807 pattern is said to have been registered in 1891

Crown Staffordshire Porcelain joined 19 other "large firms" as part of the ceramic display in the British section of the 1910 Brussels International Exposition

"The Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co., Ltd., Fenton, show a varied collection of chinaware in their well filled case. 

Reproductions of seventeenth and eighteenth century decorations are perhaps the most numerous, but there are also a few revivals of the old Chinese “ Ming ” style and some delicate pierced bowls. 

This firm are very successful with their powdered blue ground, and they also use some dainty miniature and landscape decorations."

Report by the Pottery Gazette - August 1910

NOTE: The Diploma of Honour was awarded to four Stoke-on-Trent pottery companies — G. L. Ashworth Bros., Hanley ; Booths, Ltd., Tunstall ; Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co., Ltd., Fenton ; James Macintyre & Co., Ltd., Burslem.

In the late 1920s Crown Staffordshire pioneered the large scale production of china floral ornaments and china costume jewellery for which they became famous.

In 1952 the Crown Staffordshire China Co. Ltd. was described by the Pottery Gazette and Glass Trades Review as the largest producer of china flowers in the Potteries as well as producing many figure and bird studies. 

Over 200 people were employed in the factory's decorating department.

John Bromley b.1943 d.2013 

John was a freelance designer/modeller who studied Design at the Stoke-on-Trent College of Art.

He produced designs for a number of quality ceramic manufacturers including: Royal Doulton, Crown Staffordshire China, Coalport, Wedgwood, Royal Worcester. 

(not to be confused with the artist John Mallard Bromley)

J. Bromley 

Black basalt bust of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun -this bust by the sculptor John Bromley was based on the gold death mask discovered by Howard Carter. 

Bromley produced other black basalt busts including Winston Churchill and Golda Meir.

"Koryo Pottery 12th Century" was a backstamp used by Crown Staffordshire

 Goryeo ware (Anglicised to Koryo), is a type of Korean pottery produced during the Goryeo dynasty 
from 918 to 1392. Typically this Korean ware is greenware

Crown Staffordshire Koryo ware is white and has characteristic elongated bases or necks - it is the appearance of a 'carved away' pattern on Goryeo ware that inspired the Crown Staffordshire design.

Koryo Pottery
12th Century

1930+

mark on Royal Navy Mess Ware

fragment found 2021 on Bridlington Beach, East Riding of Yorkshire by Andy Haddock and his grandson Austin Colinson. 

Royal Navy Mess Ware (canteen ware) was manufactured for use on board vessels and in institutions belonging to the Royal Navy.

Different patterns and markings were used for the various ranks and ships.

In 1907 the Royal Navy went to general mess after which all crockery through out the navy was the same.

The example shown is the Crown Staffordshire manufacturers mark with the Royal Navy Government inspection & approved stamp consisting of a capital A above a fouled Anchor with the inspection number 0 below. 

Patterns on British Royal Navy Mess Ware 

Royal Navy Mess Ware

SIGIL OFFI MAG ADMIR MAG BR &C 

This insignia and top-mark used on all British Royal Navy dinnerware from about 1937 onward. This top-mark consists of a fouled anchor within a badge surrounded by an inscription which translates to "The Seal of the Office of the Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, etc", with the British Royal Crown sitting above the badge.

There are also two types of crowns use, one for the reigning King and another for the reigning Queen. 

This particular insignia includes the King's crown of George VI as part of the Naval Badge.

c.1937-48 

This cup was found during a dive in Loch Sunart - a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. 

The ‘W’ within the diamond indicates that the products were commissioned and produced for the Office of Works (until 1939)

G VI R 
Crown Staffordshire
1945

The marks shown indicates that the ware was produced for and supplied to the British Government; it was ultimately property of the Crown/Government, hence the 'W' on the 1935 example and the GR-VI Cypher on the 1945 example.

This mark is there to distinguish the piece from being normal ‘utilitarian’ ware for public sale during the period surrounding the Second World War. 

Crown Staffordshire (and others) were given government contracts throughout the late 1930s and into the 1940s (WWII) and produced canteen ware - most likely for the armed services.

The year of manufacturer is generally included.

In 1889 the brothers Thomas Allen Green and Spencer Green started to trade as the Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co. 

Doubtless this was an attempt to capitalise on the popularity of Crown Derby and the building of new Crown Derby factory in 1877.

English manufacturers of quality porcelain were not adverse to copying the likeness of marks of successful manufacturers. 

For example Coalport, Derby Porcelain and Worcester Porcelain copied the mark of the French manufacturer Sèvres. 

The crossed swords mark of the famous Dresden pottery was copied by Bristol Porcelain, Coalport, Lowestoft Porcelain Factory, Minton and Worcester Porcelain. 

While not a direct copy the Crown Staffordshire script mark bears more than a passing resemblance to the Crown Derby mark which was newly introduced around 1887.

Crown Derby mark 
introduced c.1887

mark with the crown device and the word  "Staffordshire" surrounded by a laurel wreath

likely around the 1889-1891 period

mark with the crown device and 
intertwined script device surrounded by a laurel wreath

likely 1891-1906

the registration number 179250 shows that the pattern was first registered in 1891 

examples ware in this pattern with silver Rococo style mounts with hall marks from the 1895-1902 period are known

mark with the crown device and 
intertwined script device underneath
including the wording 
"Crown Staffordshire" 

mark introduced 1906

the registration number 592627 shows that the pattern was first registered in 1911

Why 'established 1801'

Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co. Ltd.
Estd 1801

c.1956+                 

c.1962+