Earthenware manufacturer at the Crown Pottery and the Blyth Works, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

"The Tams businesses were important and large-scale maker of mid-range domestic earthenware. Trade names used by John Tams & Sons Ltd include Tams Ware, Nankin Ware, Elephant Brand (hotel ware) and Top-o-the-World." (Handbook of British Pottery Manufacturers 1900-2010; Michael Perry). 

• John Tams and William Lowe were two pottery companies who came from a partnership "Tams & Lowe" which split up in 1874. John Tames set up business on his own account at the Crown Pottery. 

• In 1903 John Tams took his son Edmund into partnership and traded as John Tams & Son. 

• The business was incorporated in 1912 - trading as John Tams & Son Ltd.

• John Tams retired in 1917 and the business continued to be run by Edmund Tams and his two sons Philip & Peter.

• From the mid 1960's the business was run by John Tams' great-grandsons, Gerald and Peter Tams.

• Gerald Tams led a buyout of the business in 1984 and the company was floated on the Stock Exchange in 1988 as Tams Group PLC. 

plate in the Mikado pattern

A printed design comprising three arrangements in Aesthetic style - apple blossom, daisy heads and shaped panels

Crown Pottery
J T

MIKADO is the pattern name
the Rd number 89660 shows that the pattern was registered on the 12 December 1887  

this style of mark used 1875-90

jug in the Doris pattern

Crown Pottery
J T &S 
(initials at the centre of the mark)

DORIS is the pattern name
the Rd No 524969 gives a registration date of 1908

JT&S Stands for John Jams & Son and this style mark was used c.1903-12

TAMS
Hotel Ware
STRENGTH
Registered 
Trade Mark
Made in England
VITRIFIED 

anvil and hammer mark - likely c.1952+

the hand painted '1601' will be a pattern number

The same shape, different styles

Pottery manufacturers frequently reused popular shapes across a wide range of patterns and decorative schemes. These two Tams Ware coffee pots illustrate the point perfectly. Although identical in shape, the examples have been given entirely different appearances through their decoration.

The example on the left features a naturalistic floral design of blue delphiniums on an ivory ground, creating a traditional cottage garden style. In contrast, the example on the right employs a broad band of textured blue decoration with simple gilt lining, producing a much more modern Art Deco effect.

By changing only the decoration while retaining the same moulded shape, manufacturers could appeal to different tastes and market trends while keeping production costs down.

Likely date will be from the late 1920s to the 1930s. The blue band decorated pattern was more popular and production appears to have continued to the late 1930s. 

c.1905-1912
the registration number shows that the pattern was registered in 1905

Crown Pottery
J. T.
Longton
Warranted

early mark of John Tams 
(before '& Sons')
c.1875-1903

this mark can be found with "J T" in 
fancy script monogram

Crown Pottery
JT&S
(initials at the centre of the mark)

the Rd No 524969 gives a registration date of 1908

JT&S Stands for John Jams & Son and this mark was used c.1903-12

YE OLDE PRIORY
1774
TAMS WARE
EST 1774
Crown Pottery
John Tams LTD
Stoke-on-Trent
Made in England
PATENT

1912+ 

from 1912 firm became JOHN TAMS LTD

EST 1774
Crown Pottery
John Tams LTD
Made in England

1912+ 

this style of mark was still in use in the 1960's

ELEPHANT BRAND
VITRIFIED HOTELWARE 

c.1952+

TAMS
Hotel Ware
STRENGTH
Registered 
Trade Mark
Made in England
VITRIFIED 

likely c.1952+