Earthenware manufacturer at Bridge Works, Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent. One source records that around 1920 china manufacture was commenced.

• Sampson Hancock, a prominent Wesleyan Methodist, started potting around 1857, operating independently and in partnership with others

• In 1891 he established the business of Sampson Hancock & Sons.

• Sampson died in 1900 and the business was continued by his three sons - Jabez, Harry and Arthur.

• In 1935 the business got into financial difficulty and was made bankrupt. It was restarted as S Hancock & Sons (Potters) Ltd. and moved to the Gordon Works, Hanley - which they renamed the Corona Works. 

• The restarted company was not a success and it finally closed in 1937, having been put into receivership on 23rd March of that year. By this time it was a smaller enterprise, employing around 150 people.

Factory Locations:

1857 - 1870  Victoria Street, Tunstall
1881 - 1891  Bridge Pottery, Shelton (noted in Jewitt)
1892 - 1920  Gordon Works, Wolfe Street, Shelton
1920 - 1930  Gordon Pottery, Old Burton Place Works, off New Street, Hanley
1923 - 1937  Corona Pottery, Hanley

"S. Hancock & Sons, potters, Stoke-on-Trent, have been known for half a century as manufacturers of toilet ware, dinner ware, flower-pots, vases, &c., in high-class semi-porcelain and ivory ware. 

They have just brought out some special lines in toilet ware for the spring trade, and samples of them are now on show at the rooms of their London representative, Mr. J. J. Adams, of Charterhouse-street, E.C. 

Amongst them are several original models ornamented with quite new designs. One of the best of these novelties is the "Saxon" shape. The contour of the ewer is beautiful in its simplicity. The body of the ewer is nearly oviform with plain surface. 

Amongst other decorations is one in the pure Adams style with figures in medallions suspended from wreaths. This is an artistic ornamentation, the effect of which is enhanced by the quiet enamelled colours. It has a round, deep bowl with slightly flanged rim. The inside of the bowl is ornamented in keeping with the ewer, while simple festoons adorn the outside. 

The “Saxon” ewer and basin are at the left of the group illustrated. The "Sirdar" is shown on the right. This also is a plain surface, free from embossments and a plain handle formed in one curve from the top of the ewer to near the foot. The decoration shown consists of festoons and small flowers and gilt. This shape is also on show in several other decorations, some floral and others in shaded colours. 

The “Apollo” shape has neat embossments, and is shown in several enamelled patterns. There are several pleasing new patterns in dinner ware. The “Cecil” has a relief decoration on blue border. The “Hampton” dinner service has a neat serrated border, and is ornamented with enamelled and gilt patterns. 

The samples on show include numerous printed, enamelled, and japan decorations in various shapes. The range of flower-pots is a wide one, and there are several recent additions. The "Dragon" flower-pot is in three sizes, and is decorated in panels. The miscellaneous goods include all things usually for table use, made in earthenware - cheese-stands and covers, biscuit boxes, bread trays, fruit dishes, trinket sets, &c. 

Messrs. Hancock & Son are makers of all descriptions of C.C. ware, for which they claim special durability."

The Pottery Gazette, March 1 1906, p320

As well as typical practical household ware such as toilet sets and table ware, Sampson Hancock & Sons introduced ware featuring Chinese-inspired patterns, particularly the "Cheng" pattern, often marked "Khang He" or "Khang" as a phonetic spelling of the Chinese Kangxi period (1662-1722) - a popular era for original porcelain designs.

The reproduction designs appear to have been introduced in 1913. 

An article in the Pottery Gazette of December 1913, which was detailing ware carried by various retailers across the country, carried the following sentence:

"As an illustration, I will simply cite a line of Chinese reproductions by S. Hancock & Sons, Stoke-on-Trent, inspired by the porcelain of the Yung Cheng period, 1723 to 1735, the design being a rockery and Chinese pheasant."

This Sampson Hancock vase is a reproduction of a Chinese porcelain piece in a distinctive square (fang) shape with slightly flared neck and base, typical of traditional designs.

The body features alternating panels with broad sections of underglaze blue-and-white chrysanthemum-like flowers which are interspersed with vibrant polychrome reserves depicting colorful lotus flowers (in shades of red/orange, green, purple, and blue), foliage, grasses.

The panels are divided with pained bands and the bottom and top panels have a geometric background.

There appears to have been three designs reproduced by Hanock & Sons, two blue-and-white 'Chêng' and 'Lotus' and one polychrome design which has no name.

- Wikipedia article on Kangxi porcelain - 

"Spring Time"
Hand Painted
F.X. Abraham  Des

(designer) 

 
Lagoon art-pottery ware was generally a low relief moulded aquatic design featuring fish and underwater plants. 

Hand painted in matt pastel shades, particularly soft hues of green/blue. 

Jugs have handles in the form of a fish 

CoronaWare
S Hancock 
& Sons Ltd
Made in England

Lagoon Ware

Coronaware
S Hancock & Sons
Stoke-on-Trent
England
Rosetta

photos courtesy: Jim Coates

Royal Coronaware
S Hancock & Sons
Stoke-on-Trent
England
Rosetta
No 5342

1912-1937

S. Hancock & Sons
Stoke-on-Trent
England

Ivory Porcelain
S H & S  England 

1897-1906 

sometimes this mark is mistaken for that of Bourne & Leigh or Leighton Pottery Ltd who operated at the Leighton Pottery in Burslem.  

1906-1912

1912-1935

The Cromer pattern is a floral design consisting of poppies generally with an ornamental border of leaves and curved flourishes. 

A range of washroom / toilet ware was produced in this pattern as well as serving dishes, large bowls / planters and Jardinières.

The pattern is generally hand coloured with cobalt blue banding or accents and in Imari and Gaudy Welsh colours. The pattern was also produced in blue & white transfer.

The pattern name 'Cromer' derives from the Norfolk costal town of the same name. Cromer became a resort in the early 19th century, with some of the rich Norwich banking families making it their summer home. 

In 1883 the London journalist Clement Scott went to Cromer and began to write about the area. He named the stretch of coastline "Poppyland", and the combination of the railway access and his writing in the national press brought many visitors. The name "Poppyland" referred to the numerous poppies which grew (and still grow) at the roadside and in meadows. 

- Wikipedia article on Cromer - 

source: Lovers of Blue & White 

source: eHive

source: Jon Pamplin

Hancock's Ivory Ware was a line of good quality, decorative, hand-painted, and designer art deco and other contemporary patterns. 

Probably introduced in 1923 and continued until the business closed in 1937.