Thomas Forester and Sons Ltd

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

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

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 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.

1914 mug Liberty and Justice

with the flags of (left to right) France, United Kingdom,
Russian Federation, Belgium

T F & S Ld
England

A revised style of mark incorporating a globe had been introduced in 1912.
However this earlier mark was evidently also used for some years after.

early marks - perhaps from the 1880s - before the company
became '& Sons' in 1883

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

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