Elkin & Knight

Earthenware manufacturers at The Foley Potteries, Foley, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, England

The partners were John King Knight and his brothers-in-law George and Thomas Elkin. The business had a number of name changes as partners retired and others joined until in 1856 whenthe business at the Foley Potteries changed hands from the original Elkin and Knight familes to Wileman.
They were producers of blue & white 'views' ware.
In 1827 John Bridgwood jointed the business which became Elkin, Knight & Bridgwood

blue transferware plate - 'Near Newark'

In the collection of: Attingham Park, Shropshire

Near Newark

one of the 'Rock Cartouche Series'
produced by Elkin Knight & Co

large blue transferware plate - 'Lancaster'

the view shows the castle and Priory Church of
St. Mary in the English city of Lancaster

Elkin Knight & Co

Lancaster

'Rock Cartouche' mark

Rock Cartouche Series

Rock Cartouche is a term typically for a mark in the form of a rock surrounded by plants. It was used by a number of potters.

Elkin, Knight & Co used this style of mark containing the names of a series of 'views'.

Known views are:

Byland Abbey, Yorkshire
Craig Castle
Guy's Cliffe
Jedbergh Abbey
Lancaster
Nant Mill
Near Newark
Sweetheart Abbey

courtesy: Dictionary of Blue & White Printed Pottery 1780-1880. Coysh & Henrywood.

pattern name in a printed Rock Cartouche and an
impressed 'Elkin, Knight & Co' with a crown above

Marks and initials used on ware for identification:

Marking of the ware of Elkin, Knight & Co is often haphazard.

Sometimes identical pattern ware will be marked with just the pattern name or both the pattern name and makers mark and some without any mark at all.

impressed mark 'Elkin, Knight & Co' with crown above
printed mark incorporating the Royal Arms

This mark was sometimes used - it features an eagle holding a branch in one claw and arrows in the other, it is taken from the United States Coat of Arms - such marks were used by some English potters to try to appeal to the American market.

It was used by the various partnerships from Elkin, Knight & Co through to J F Wileman.

Overlap in the various partnerships can be seen by ware which has an impressed mark 'Elkin, Knight & Co' together with printed marks incorporating the initials E.K.B. for the subsequent partnership of Elkin, Knight & Bridgwood.