JONROTH are prolific importers of Staffordshire pottery into the USA, specialising in blue and pink  historical or souvenir designs on the traditional blue (and pink) Staffordshire prints.

• In 1884 John H Roth entered the ceramic trade as a clerk for C. E. Wheelock in South Bend, Indiana, U.S.A. Wheelock was an importer, wholesale and retail dealer in art pottery, fine china and cut glassware; sourcing ware particularly from Germany & Austria. Wheelock imported pictorial souvenir plates from many central European manufacturers in addition to the English pottery companies of W. H. Goss and R.H. & S.L. Plant. 

• Evidently John H Roth grew in his position at Wheelock, he had equity in the company and traveled abroad to visit some of the suppliers for example in 1892 he made his first visit to the factory of William Adams & Sons in England. 

• The business name of John H. Roth & Co. came to be when Roth sold his equity at Wheelocks in 1909 and founded Jonroth Studios, located in Peoria, Illinois as an import company. They contracted with companies in Germany and Japan for pieces with the Jonroth Studio backstamp.

• Roth evidently consolidated his supply base to the North Staffordshire Potteries. The principle supplier was William Adams & Sons who Roth had purchased from during his time at Wheelock , he developed this relationship which was to last until around 1970. 

• The John H Roth & Co business was still active as at 2023, importing "Commemorative pottery decorated with historical events or monuments and made in England for America" for the wholesale market. 

The basis of much of this information kindly supplied c. 2001 by John H. Roth III,  the president of John H. Roth & Co. Inc.

Old English Staffordshire Ware

Made in Staffordshire England
imported exclusively for..

Made in Staffordshire England
by the Adams Potteries
Established 1657

In 1892, John H Roth made his first visit to the Factory of William Adams
& Sons, (presumably when he worked for C. E. Wheelock). This began a relationship that was to last up to and after the time of the Wedgwood takeover - probably until 1970.  

The name of JONROTH is more closely associated with Adams than any other manufacturer.

this mark appeared on a plate produced in 1981
to commemorate the 107th Kentucky Derby  

the Jonroth mark is overprinted on a standard J H Weatherby mark - the numbers 4-78 are the month-year if manufacture, in this instance April 1978

J H Weatherby were suppliers from 1975 to 2000, generally the pieces are not marked Weatherby, but carry the JONROTH mark alone.

JONROTH took the last order produced by J. H. Weatherby & Sons in April 2000 when Weatherby's were wound down.

After the closure of J. H. Weatherby in 2000 Jonathan Weatherby took over producing for JONROTH, working with a very limited staff at the Falcon Pottery.    ..... operating as a decorator under the name of 'Jonathan Weatherby at Falcon Pottery'. 

The Mayflower in Plymouth Harbour
1620

Depicts the coat of arms of several Mayflower families including Brewster, Standish, Alden, Bradford, White, Winslow, Howland, Fuller, and Warren. 

Old English Staffordshire Ware

Jonroth England

Made in Staffordshire England
by the Adams Potteries
Established 1657

Imported for
Smith's Inc
Plymouth, Mass

This souvenir plate was originally produced for A. S.  Burbank (copyright 1909).

It is assumed that Smith's took over Burbank's shop when he retired in 1932.

Jonroth had a long association with the Adams potteries

Coats of Arms of
Mayflower Families
Copyrighted 1909 by
A. S. Burbank
Plymouth Mass  

Alfred Stevens Burbank of the Pilgrim Bookstore in Plymouth, Massachusetts from 1872 to 1932. 

He became well known for commissioning and selling a wide range of booklets, postcards and souvenirs related to the Pilgrim Fathers and their arrival in Plymouth aboard the ship Mayflower. 

Rowland & Marsellus (of New York) were importers, wholesalers and retailers, especially of 'souvenir' wares.