Marks of North Staffordshire potters
[index by signs, logos, devices]  

thepotteries.org 

 

[ marks guide index ]

 

Warranted Staffordshire 
pottery marks

 

 

Impressed circular marks
Printed circular / belt marks

Printed scroll marks 

Uncertain / unknown manufacturers 

Known manufacturers 

False use of mark 

 

 


Impressed circular marks 

The impressed circular style of mark appears to have been the first to incorporate the words 'Warranted Staffordshire' and it was used by William Adams as early as 1804. The marks appear on blue and white ware with American or English views. 


There are two basic variations - 

  • one with a central crown

  • the other with a representation of an eagle as used in the Great Seal of the United States of America. 

 

 

 

   

ADAMS
(circular impressed mark)


 

William Adams & Sons  

Circular mark - with a representation of an eagle. 

This mark was used by Adams in  both an impressed and printed from from 1804 to 1840

 

ADAMS
(circular impressed mark)


 

William Adams  

This impressed circular mark including a crown was used from 1810 to 1825

CLEWS
(circular impressed mark)


 

Ralph & James Clews (1815-1834) 

"Impressed mark often found on good quality blue printed earthenware" Godden - Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks'  

 

A Stevenson


Andrew Stevenson (c.1813-30)  

Circular impressed mark including a crown

 

 

 

S. TAMS & Co


S. Tams (c.1820-30?)  

Impressed mark - wording in a circle - with a representation of an eagle.

 

This mark appears on an plate in the 'Foliage Border Series' showing Covent Garden Theatre London

 

 

 


Printed circular marks 

There are at least three manufacturers who used the wording 'Warranted Staffordshire' in a printed circular or belt mark

 

 

T G B


 

Thomas Gimbert Booth (1876-83) 

Printed mark within a belt shape.

Mark used on ware in the Asiatic Pheasants pattern. 

J T H
(circular printed mark)
LASSO is the pattern name


 

John Thomas Hudden (1859-84) 

J M & S

Warranted the Original Staffordshire

Estevao Busk & Company were 
importers based in Rio Janeiro

 


 

John Meir & Son (1837-97) 

 

A belt mark with the initials J M & S carries the wording "Warranted the original Staffordshire"

This may refer to the time when John Meir operated on his own account (1812-1837)  before taking his son Henry into business with him.  

John Meir operated at the Greengate Pottery Works which was founded by William Adams in 1779 - the "Original Staffordshire" may refer to this. It is known that Adams used a mark with "Warranted Staffordshire" from 1804. 

 

 

 


 

Printed scroll marks 

This popular style of mark was in use at least as early as the 1830s (John Meir & Son). It was mostly, but not exclusively, used on Willow pattern ware. 

 

 

 

 

This style of mark with no manufacturers name or initials appears on Willow pattern ware and is probably late 20th Century and manufactured in China. 

 

uncertain / unknown manufacturers 

 

? JONES


 

? Jones

possibly Elijah Jones (1828-39) 

 

L. D. ? ?


 

Fragment found (2024) in the bottom of a disused well in Wellington New Zealand.

The manufacturer is unknown

 

photo courtesy: Conrad Wildig

M & S


Mark on a brown & white Willow pattern plate - the manufacturer is uncertain - the initials M & S were used by a number of manufacturers..

Maddock & Seddon (c.1839-42) 

Mayer & Sherratt (1906-41) 

Charles Meigh & Son (1850-61) 


Charles Meigh & Son is favoured

 

known manufacturers 

 

ADAMS
ENGLAND


 

William Adams  

Marks incorporating 'ENGLAND' are 1891 onwards

W A & Co T
ENGLAND


 

William Adams  

William Adams & Co

The letter 'T' stands for Tunstall which is the town where the Adams factories were located.

The use of 'T' or 'TUNSTALL' indicates a date post 1896 and the use of "& Co' indicates a date prior to 1925. 

 

W ADAMS & Sons
Tunstall England


 

William Adams  

William Adams & Sons

Tunstall which is the town where the Adams factories were located.

The use of "& Sons' indicates a date post 1925. 

W ADAMS & Sons
ENGLAND


 

William Adams  

The use of '& Sons' indicates a date 1925 onwards.

B M T


 

Boulton, Machin & Tennant (1889-1899) 

E & C CHALLINOR


 

Edward & Charles Challinor (1862-91)

E & N


 

Elkin & Newbon (1844-55) 

The initials 'E & N' are generally in script form

J MEIR & SON


 

John Meir & Son (1837-97) 

J M & S


 

John Meir & Son (1837-97) 

 

T PHILIPS & SON
Burslem


 

Thomas Phillips & Son (c.1845-6) 

Short lived manufacturer - this more unusual mark was copied by John Carr (& Co) (& Son) of North Shields Northumberland  

 

P W & Co


 

Podmore, Walker & Co (1834-56) 

In 1856 Enoch Wedgwood joined the company which became Podmore, Walker, Wedgwood & Co.

In 1860, after the death of Thomas Podmore, the business became Wedgwood & Co. 

A SHAW


 

Anthony Shaw (1851-1882) 

"& Son" from 1882-98
"& Co" from 1898-1900

WEDGWOOD & Co


Wedgwood & Co (Ltd) (1860-1965) 

Successor company to Podmore, Walker & Co

 

 

 

false use of mark 

 

J C & SON

 


 

John Carr & Son (c.1854-1861)

This mark is listed in "Kowalsky" pg 140 and "Bell Tyneside Pottery" (pg 139) as belonging to John Carr & Son.

This more unusual style of mark was used by Thomas Phillips & Son of Burslem - it was copied by John Carr (& Co) (& Son) of North Shields, Northumberland even though they were around 200 miles away from Staffordshire.  

 

I C & Co


 

John Carr & Co (c.1850)

"& Co" occurs in a directory of 1850
"J. Carr" was used in 1845
"& Son" from 1854
"& Sons" from 1861

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Questions, comments, contributions? - email: Steve Birks