Thomas Forester and Sons Ltd






 

Location and period of operation:

Thomas Forester

Longton

1877

1883

Thomas Forester and Sons 

Longton

1883

1891

Thomas Forester and Sons Ltd

Longton

1891

1959

 

Majolica, earthenware and later, china manufacturer at Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England

  • Thomas Forester was born in 1832. His father was a warehouse-man at Minton's china factory and Thomas was apprenticed there as a presser. 

  • In 1856 Thomas was engaged as manager at the Victoria Works, Shelton, for Lockett, Baguley & Cooper. After a few years he joined Mrs. Wardle (Wardle & Co) as a majolica manufacturer.

  • He was invited to take charge of the works of Messrs. Peterinck & Son at Tournai in Belgium.

  • Thomas Forester returned to England and in 1877 started business at a small works in the High Street, Longton and he soon took additional premises in Church Street - the Church Street Majolica Works. 

  • He demolished the Church Street Works and built the Phoenix works  which he completed in 1879.

  • In the beginning of 1883 he took his sons Herbert and Victor into partnership and the title of the business became '& Sons'

  • Incorporated as a Limited Company in 1891.

  • By 1893 the business was recorded as employing 520 people at the "Imperial and Phoenix Works" and by 1900 they employed over 700 people.

  • Artists: Thomas Dean was a freelance artist and ceramicist working, at various times, for Minton, Wedgwood, Watcombe, Spode/Copeland and Foresters. Ronald and Albert Dean were two of Thomas Dean’s sons and all three designed for Foresters at various times. Ronald Dean ended his career at Foresters as works manager immediately prior to the Second World War. (Information: Mr. Ian Turner)

  • In 1941, under the Wartime Concentration Scheme, the business of Collingwood Bros operated with that of Thomas Forester & Sons at the Imperial Works, Longton. 

  • The business closed in June 1959.

 


NOTE: There three men named Thomas Forester who operated pottery works in the Fenton/Longton area of Stoke-on-Trent - all at the same time....

Thomas Forester & Sons (Ltd) - at the Phoenix Works, Longton (this page)

Thomas Forester Son & Co - at the Sutherland Pottery, Fenton 

Thomas Forester & Co - at the Melbourne Works, Longton

 


 

 


Thomas Forester
High Street and Church Street, Longton, Potteries
Majolica and Earthenware of every description
for Home and Export
Jugs, Mounted Teapots, Tea, Dinner & Toilet Services

Pottery Gazette,  November 1880

 


 


Thomas Forester & Sons
Phoenix Works, Longton, Staffordshire
The new "Moncrieff" Ware in Elegant Designs of Form and Colour

Pottery Gazette,  January 1885

 


 




From: A descriptive account of The Potteries (illustrated)
1893 advertising and trade journal.

 


 


Station Square
Forester, Thomas and Sons, Ltd.,
earthenware and fancy vase
manufacturers, Imperial Works 

Church Street
Forester, Thos., and Sons, Ltd.,
majolica, earthenware, and fancy goods
manufacturers, Phoenix Works 

 

from..... 1907 Staffordshire Sentinel 
'Business Reference Guide to The Potteries, Newcastle & District'

 


 


Thomas Forester & Sons Ltd
Art Potters
Longton, Staffs
Specialities Vases, Flower Pots
China Tea and Breakfast Ware

The Pottery Gazette - 1st January 1913

 

 


 

 

Typical ware produced by Thomas Forester & Sons:

"The firm have dvoted themselves almost exclusively to the production of art specialities, vases, flower pots, pedestals etc., etc., in endless varieties of shapes and decorations." 
(1893 trade journal of the Potteries)

China manufacturer 

"Makers of Fine Art Pottery, China, Faience, &c."  from a 1905 letterhead. 

Pre-1900 the company was known for producing a vast range of majolica - their early factory in Church Street - the Church Street Majolica Works. Techniques were later improved, which led to the production of many elaborate art pottery designs including Trogon Ware during the 1920s and 1930s.

 

 

china cup & saucer - likely produced at Foresters Imperial Works 


Foresters Ltd
Longton
Imperial Bone China
 

 


 

 


Thomas Forester Showroom - 1890

Courtesy: Thomas Forester Pottery

 


 


majolica cheese keeper 

most of Thomas Forester majolica is unmarked

Majolica International Society

 



a pair of Ronda Ware vases designed by Ronald Dean 

The signature of Ronald Dean (of the family of pottery artists) 
Ronald Dean also produced designs for Wardle & Co

 

 


 

 
tube-lined Trongon Ware vases 

 




hand painted trio, with cobalt blue and gilt decoration - Phoenix China 

 


 


transfer decorated trio

 

probably c.1950s 


Phoenix China
T. F. & S. LTD
England 
this mark appears on the saucer and plate


Best English China
Foresters Ltd
England 
this mark appears on the cup

 

photos courtesy: Megan at My Butlers Pantry

 


 

 


two handled vase - art pottery style 

 


 


small hand painted with gilt - china jug 

 


 

Marks & initials used on ware for identification:

Foresters

T F & S

PHOENIX CHINA

PHOENIX WARE

Ronda Ware

Moncrieff Ware 

 


 


FORESTER
England 

most of Thomas Forester majolica is unmarked

 


 


Foresters
England 


Phoenix Art Faience
Foresters
England 

These two marks often appear together

early mark possibly from the 1880s - before the company
became '& Sons' in 1883

 


 


Phoenix Ware
England
T. Forester Ltd

INDUS is the pattern name

this mark is unusual - it is post 1891 which is when the 
business was incorporated as a limited company,
however it doesn't have '& Sons' which is usual after 1883

 


 


T. F. & S. 

mark without 'LTD'

1883 - 1891 


 


T. F. & S. LD.



T. F. & S. LD.
ENGLAND

mark of the Phoenix - without a globe

1891 - 1912


 


Phoenix China
T. F. & S. LTD.
England

mark incorporating a globe

1912 - 1959 


 


Phoenix China
T. F. & S. LTD.
Made in England

MADE IN ENGLAND was generally used in the 20th century  - this style of mark appears to have continued until the 1950s

 


 

           

various marks c.1925-59 

 


 


Made in England
A
T. F. & S. LTD.

1942-47

this mark was used under the Wartime Concentration Scheme  

 


 


the phoenix Works in 1893

click for more information

 


Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks