The Mark Index

Staffordshire Pottery Marks: Dating English Transferware, Ironstone and Earthenware

A Staffordshire backstamp is full of dating clues: the Royal Arms, a registration diamond, ENGLAND, LTD, TRADE MARK, the name of the body. This guide turns those words into a date range, decodes Wedgwood and Royal Doulton date codes, and lists 29 transferware and ironstone makers’ marks with sourced dates.

By The Mark Index EditorsSources checked October 6, 202629 makers · 145 marks · 118 sourcesCC BY 4.0
AI illustration: blue-and-white transfer-printed plates and a platter on a painted dresser shelf beside a white ironstone pitcher

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The short version

Read every word in the mark. ENGLAND usually means 1891 or later, though a few firms used it earlier.[3][7][8] LTD means 1861 or later and was rare before the 1880s.[3][4][5] TRADE MARK points to after the 1875 Trade Marks Registration Act.[2][3][6] Royal Arms with a small shield in the center are the 1801 to 1837 form.[3][17][18] A registration diamond dates the design to 1842 to 1883, and an Rd number to 1884 or later; the piece itself can be later.[3][8][11][12]

Three rules before you date a Staffordshire mark

  1. Most clues are floors. ENGLAND, LTD, TRADE MARK and an Rd number say “not before.” A potter could keep printing from an old copper plate for years.[3][11][12][17][18]
  2. A year in the mark is rarely the year it was made. “Est. 1793”, “Estd 1851”, “1883” and “1750” are founding claims. Minton’s EST 1793 mark is from about 1912 to 1950.[3][64][65][66][67]
  3. Same name, different firm. Wedgwood & Co. of Tunstall is not Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, and Mason’s Patent Ironstone China was made by later owners for more than a century.[4][13][15][32][35]

Narrow the date

Tap every word, device and printing feature you can see, then the maker’s mark if you know it. The tool combines the ranges and shows which clue sets each limit. Only clues with at least two independent sources are included.

Words in the mark
Body name in the mark
Devices and registration marks
How the pattern was printed
Maker’s mark pick one

The one-page cheat sheet

The words-in-the-mark rules, the printing clues and the two-sourced makers’ marks on one page, for a show, a dig house, a classroom or a reference desk.

Download the PDFOpen to print

Attribution line: “Staffordshire Pottery Marks” by The Mark Index (https://themarkindex.com/staffordshire-pottery-marks/), licensed under CC BY 4.0.

What the words in the mark tell you

ENGLAND
From 1891 for most firms, when the U.S. McKinley Tariff’s marking rule took effect. A few firms used it earlier: T. Elsmore & Son from 1872 and Powell & Bishop from 1867, and Clementson Bros and Alfred Meakin also appear before 1891. ENGLAND alone stayed in use long after MADE IN ENGLAND appeared.[3][4][7][8][15][87][88][89][112]
MADE IN ENGLAND
A 20th-century wording, but sources disagree on when it became usual: a few marks from about 1898 to 1902, general use from about 1908 at Wedgwood, 1914 by one count, after 1920 by another. No U.S. law required the words “Made in.”[2][3][8][9] See our country-of-origin dating chart.
LIMITED, LTD or LD
The first limited company among Staffordshire potters dates from 1861 (one page says 1862). LTD was rare until the 1880s and 1890s, and some firms added it late: Grindley only in 1925. A missing LTD proves nothing.[3][4][5][107][108]
TRADE MARK
After the Trade Marks Registration Act of 1875; the register opened in 1876. We found no source for the often-repeated “after 1862.”[2][3][6]
ROYAL in the name
Generally after about 1850, most often late 19th and 20th century. Both sources restate the same older rule, so treat it as a guide; a firm’s own adoption date (Royal Doulton from 1901 to 1902) is better evidence.[1][2][73][74][75][76][77][78][79]
Royal Arms
The 1801 to 1837 Arms carry a small shield in the center; it was removed in 1837. Most potters used the Arms without a royal warrant, and American potters copied them on ironstone, so the Arms alone don’t prove English manufacture or royal patronage.[3][17][18]
IRONSTONE and STONE CHINA
Mason patented “Patent Ironstone China” in 1813; IRONSTONE in a mark is 1813 or later, and most white ironstone is from the 1840s on. The Mason mark passed to Francis Morley in 1851 and to the Ashworths in 1859.[4][13][14] STONE CHINA dates from about 1805 to 1813 on, mostly about 1805 to 1840.[3][14][15] WHITE GRANITE and GRANITE CHINA are late 1830s on, chiefly for North America.[14][16]
BONE CHINA
The words in the mark are 20th century, although the body itself was made from the 1790s.[1][10]
Registration diamond and Rd No
The diamond was used for designs registered from 1842 to 1883, and Rd numbers from 1884. Both date the design’s registration, not the piece. Decode them with our registration marks guide.[3][8][11][12]
Staffordshire knot
A three-loop knot used by many firms from about 1845, most often in the 1870s and 1880s. It identifies the district, not a maker.[1][19]

Printing clues

Blue printing under the glaze
From about 1783 to 1784 in Staffordshire; it never stopped, so it is a floor only.[15][20][21]
Line engraving with no dot shading
About 1783 to about 1807 to 1812, before stipple shading came in.[20][21]
Red, green, purple and other single colors
From about 1829, popular in the 1830s.[8][20][21]
Two colors on one piece
From about 1835.[8][20]
Full-color prints from several plates
Pratt-type printing from the late 1840s; the finest pot lids are about 1850 to 1870. Pratt prints were reissued in the 20th century.[8][22][23]
AI illustration: a finds tray of blue-and-white transferware sherds sorted by border pattern, with a trowel, brush and blank tags

Date codes you can decode

Wedgwood three-letter date codes, 1860 to 1929 year table from one source

Josiah Wedgwood & Sons impressed three characters: the first is the month, the second the workman, the third the year. From 1907 the first character became a 3, and from 1924 a 4. The system and its 1860 start are confirmed by several sources; the year-by-year list is worked out from the cycle rule stated by one of them (Hays on thepotteries.org), so treat it as a strong guide.[8][9][113][114]

Royal Doulton year numbers, from 1928

On Burslem wares a small number printed beside the lion-and-crown mark gives the year: add 1927, so 1 is 1928. One site says 1 is 1927, but the other two sources we found say 1928.[74][115][116]

Copeland (Spode Works)
An impressed month letter over the last two digits of the year: O over 90 is October 1890. The date records when the piece was potted, not decorated. J and M are ambiguous between months.[7][8]
Minton year cyphers
Minton impressed one small symbol per year from 1842, starting with a star. The full table is printed only as pictures in the old books, so we can’t give it in words; use a library copy of Godden or Rhead.[8][117][118] An impressed MINTON (singular) is roughly the 1860s to early 1870s and MINTONS (plural) the mid-1870s or later.[4][15][60][61][62][63]
Davenport one source
Two figures either side of the impressed anchor can give the year: 4 and 8 is 1848.[4][15][36][37]
Impressed numbers in general
Small numbers near a mark are a date only if they fit a known system. Otherwise they are workmen’s, size or mold numbers.[4][8]

Staffordshire mark clues at a glance

“About” marks a soft limit. The superscript numbers lead to the sources.

Clue or markDate rangeMaker or what to watch forSources
Words in the mark
ROYAL in the firm or trade namegenerally after about 1850; most examples late 19th or 20th centuryBoth sources are collector/student summaries that appear to restate Godden's rule; no primary source opened.Details [1][2]
LIMITED, LTD or LDafter 1861; rare before the 1880s-1890s; usual for new firms by about 1900Disagreement: Birks's Old Hall page gives 1862 (and notes Jewitt's 1861); his general guide gives March 1861.Details [3][4][5]
TRADE MARKafter the Trade Marks Registration Act of 1875 (register opened 1876); most examples laterFloor soft: nothing stopped a potter printing the words earlier, and the National Archives notes trade mark designs were registered at Stationers' Hall from 1842 under copyright law.Details [2][3][6]
ENGLANDfrom 1891 for most firms; a few used it earlier (e.g. T. Elsmore & Son 1872-1887; Powell & Bishop 1867-1878)Floor soft.Details [3][7][8]
MADE IN ENGLAND20th century in practice: a few marks from about 1898-1902, general use from about 1908 (Wedgwood) to the 1910s-1920s depending on the firmSources agree it is a 20th-century wording but disagree on when it became usual: about 1908 (Wedgwood, Hays), 1914 (Birks), after 1920 (TCC FAQ); an auction-house claim of a 1921 US law change was not supported by any primary source (see the country-of-origin research).Details [2][3][8][9]
BONE CHINA20th century (the body is older; the words in the mark are not)Applies to the WORDS in the mark, not the material: bone china itself was made from the 1790s (JPPM: Spode by 1794).Details [1][10]
Rd No followed by a number1884 or later (the number dates the design's registration)Look the number up in the site's Rd-number table for the registration year; the piece may be later.Details [11][12]
Body name in the mark
IRONSTONE or IRONSTONE CHINA1813 or later (Mason's patent); most white ironstone 1840s onDisagreement: Jewitt (1878) and Chaffers (1886) also say Spode introduced an opaque porcelain 'known as ironstone china' in 1805; that refers to Spode's stone china body, not a mark reading IRONSTONE.Details [4][13][14]
MASON’S PATENT IRONSTONE CHINA1813 on; continued after 1859 by Ashworths (and later owners)The mark outlived the Masons: Francis Morley bought the patent, molds and copper plates in 1851 and sold them to the Ashworths in 1859 (Jewitt), so the mark alone does not mean a Mason-period piece.Details [4][13]
STONE CHINA or NEW STONEfrom about 1805-1813; decorated stone china mostly about 1805-1840Floor soft.Details [3][14][15]
WHITE GRANITE or GRANITE CHINAlate 1830s on; mainly 1840s to about 1900 (US and Canadian market)Body name, chiefly for export to North America.Details [14][16]
Devices and registration marks
Royal Arms with a small shield in the center1801 to 1837 for the design itself; on pottery from about 1806 (earliest confirmed user Hicks & Meigh)The Arms of 1801-1837 carry a small central shield for Hanover.Details [3][17][18]
Royal Arms, no small center shield1837 or later (Victorian and after)Floor only.Details [17][18]
Registration diamond (lozenge)design registered 1842-1883 (the piece itself can be later)Decode with the site's registration-mark guide.Details [3][8][11][12]
Staffordshire knotfrom about 1845; most used in the 1870s-1880s; still used in the 20th centuryWeak dating clue: Birks quotes Godden; the hobby site likely draws on the same rule.Details [1][19]
How the pattern was printed
Blue transfer print under the glazefrom about 1783-1784 in StaffordshireFloor soft.Details [15][20][21]
Printed in lines only, no dot shadingabout 1783 to about 1807-1812Disagreement: Florida Museum dates stippling to 1807; JPPM ties it to an 1803 paper-making machine and gives line-only a peak of 1797-1812.Details [20][21]
Printed in red, green, purple or similarfrom about 1829; popular in the 1830s (brown appears earlier, about 1809)Floor soft.Details [8][20][21]
Two print colors on one piecefrom about 1835The TCC support is a dated photo caption of a Davenport three-color plate, not a stated rule.Details [8][20]
Full-color print from several plates (Pratt type)late 1840s on; finest pot lids about 1850-1870Floor soft (1840s; Pratt's pot-lid patent 1847).Details [8][22][23]
Maker’s marks with two or more sources
COPELAND & GARRETT or C & G, often with LATE SPODE and sometimes a body name (for example Felspar Porcelain, New Blanche, New Fayence)1833 to 1847Copeland & GarrettMaker [4][7][24][25][26][27][28]
COPELAND & GARRETT in a circle or wreath under a crown, enclosing the body name (for example NEW BLANCHE)1833 to 1847Copeland & GarrettMaker [4][7][24][25][26][27][28]
COPELAND LATE SPODE (also Copeland over Late Spode)1847 to about 1867W.T. Copeland (from 1867 W.T. Copeland & Sons; renamed Spode Ltd in 1970)Maker [4][7][27][28][29][30][31]
W T COPELAND & SONS (name marks adding '& Sons')1867 to about 1970W.T. Copeland (from 1867 W.T. Copeland & Sons; renamed Spode Ltd in 1970)Maker [4][7][27][28][29][30][31]
WEDGWOOD & BENTLEY or W & B; on vases often a circular mark with Etruria, letters raisedabout 1768 to 1780Josiah Wedgwood (& Sons; incorporated as Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd 1895)Maker [4][15][32][33][34]
WEDGWOOD with ENGLAND1891 to about 1908Josiah Wedgwood (& Sons; incorporated as Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd 1895)Maker [4][15][32][33][34]
WEDGWOOD with MADE IN ENGLANDabout 1908 onJosiah Wedgwood (& Sons; incorporated as Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd 1895)Maker [4][15][32][33][34]
WEDGWOOD in sans-serif capitalsabout 1929 onJosiah Wedgwood (& Sons; incorporated as Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd 1895)Maker [4][15][32][33][34]
Wedgwood & Co. (Ralph Wedgwood's partnership at the Knottingley, later Ferrybridge, Pottery, Yorkshire)about 1796 to about 1804Wedgwood & Co. (Ltd), Tunstall – NOT Josiah Wedgwood & Sons (also: Ralph Wedgwood & Co., Knottingley/Ferrybridge)Maker [4][15][32][35]
Garter reading DAVENPORT LONGPORT STAFFORDSHIRE around an anchor, with Stone China in script1805 to about 1820Davenport (John Davenport; W. Davenport & Co. from 1835; Davenports Ltd from 1881)Maker [4][15][36][37]
ENOCH WOOD & SONS, E WOOD & SONS or E W & S, alone or within printed pattern marksabout 1818 to 1846Enoch Wood & Sons (earlier Enoch Wood; Wood & Caldwell)Maker [4][15][34][38][39]
Eagle with ENOCH WOOD & SONS BURSLEM STAFFORDSHIRE and SEMI CHINA WARRANTEDabout 1818 to 1846Enoch Wood & Sons (earlier Enoch Wood; Wood & Caldwell)Maker [4][15][34][38][39]
CLEWS WARRANTED STAFFORDSHIRE, usually between circles around a crownabout 1815 to about 1834James & Ralph Clews (R. & J. Clews)Maker [4][15][34][40]
R S & S or R STEVENSON & SONabout 1832 to about 1835Ralph Stevenson (also Stevenson & Williams / R. Stevenson, Alcock & Williams; R. Stevenson & Son)Maker [4][15][41][42][43]
ROGERS, sometimes with the astronomical sign for Mars (iron)about 1784 to about 1836John & George Rogers; John Rogers & SonMaker [4][15][44]
J & W RIDGWAY, J & W R or J W R, often with a pattern name (for example India Temple, Stone China)1814 to 1830Ridgway family firms: Job Ridgway (& Sons); John & William Ridgway; John Ridgway (& Co); William Ridgway (& Co); Ridgways (Bedford Works). Ridgway Potteries Ltd (1955+) is covered elsewhere.Maker [4][15][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]
J R & Co or JOHN RIDGWAY & COabout 1841 to 1855Ridgway family firms: Job Ridgway (& Sons); John & William Ridgway; John Ridgway (& Co); William Ridgway (& Co); Ridgways (Bedford Works). Ridgway Potteries Ltd (1955+) is covered elsewhere.Maker [4][15][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]
W R & Co or W RIDGWAY & CO, including a vase and anchor device1834 to 1854Ridgway family firms: Job Ridgway (& Sons); John & William Ridgway; John Ridgway (& Co); William Ridgway (& Co); Ridgways (Bedford Works). Ridgway Potteries Ltd (1955+) is covered elsewhere.Maker [4][15][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]
W ADAMS & SONS or W A & S, in various printed marks (including a belt mark with an eagle)about 1819 to about 1864William Adams (& Co; W. Adams & Sons; William Adams & Sons (Potters) Ltd)Maker [4][53][54]
PATENT IRONSTONE CHINA, with or without MASON'S1813 onMason family (Miles Mason; G.M. & C.J. Mason; C.J. Mason & Co.) and Mason's Patent Ironstone China, later continued by G.L. Ashworth & BrosMaker [4][15][55][56][57][58][59]
G M & C J MASON, or G & C J Mabout 1813 to about 1829Mason family (Miles Mason; G.M. & C.J. Mason; C.J. Mason & Co.) and Mason's Patent Ironstone China, later continued by G.L. Ashworth & BrosMaker [4][15][55][56][57][58][59]
Mason's printed mark with ASHWORTH added; Ashworth marks with REAL IRONSTONE CHINA and the Royal Arms; A BROS or G L A & BROSabout 1862 to about 1968Mason family (Miles Mason; G.M. & C.J. Mason; C.J. Mason & Co.) and Mason's Patent Ironstone China, later continued by G.L. Ashworth & BrosMaker [4][15][55][56][57][58][59]
M & B (often in script within a scroll cartouche), sometimes with Felspar Porcelain or a pattern name1836 to about 1841Minton (Minton & Boyle; Herbert Minton & Co. / Minton & Co.; Mintons; Mintons Ltd)Maker [4][15][60][61][62][63]
M & Co (often in script), in many printed pattern marksabout 1841 to about 1873Minton (Minton & Boyle; Herbert Minton & Co. / Minton & Co.; Mintons; Mintons Ltd)Maker [4][15][60][61][62][63]
MINTONabout 1861 to about 1873Minton (Minton & Boyle; Herbert Minton & Co. / Minton & Co.; Mintons; Mintons Ltd)Maker [4][15][60][61][62][63]
Ermine spot (heraldic ermine tail)about 1850 to about 1870Minton (Minton & Boyle; Herbert Minton & Co. / Minton & Co.; Mintons; Mintons Ltd)Maker [4][15][60][61][62][63]
ROYAL IRONSTONE CHINA / JOHNSON BROS / LATE PANKHURST & CO, with the Royal Arms1883Johnson Bros (Hanley) Ltd ("Johnson Brothers")Maker [64][65][66][67]
J. & G. MEAKIN impressed, with printed IRONSTONE CHINA / J. & G. MEAKIN (Royal Arms), no ENGLANDabout 1878 to about 1890J. & G. Meakin (Ltd from 1890)Maker [4][7][68][69][70]
WOOD & SON / ENGLAND (incl. ROYAL SEMI-PORCELAIN and Royal Arms ironstone versions)about 1891 to about 1907Wood & Son; Wood & Sons (from 1907); Wood & Sons Ltd (from 1910)Maker [71][72]
WOOD & SONS / ENGLAND (no LTD)about 1907 to about 1910Wood & Son; Wood & Sons (from 1907); Wood & Sons Ltd (from 1910)Maker [71][72]
WOOD & SONS LTD / ENGLANDabout 1910 onWood & Son; Wood & Sons (from 1907); Wood & Sons Ltd (from 1910)Maker [71][72]
Four interlocking D's in a circular roundel with DOULTON / BURSLEM, no ENGLAND (some versions without the crown)1882 to about 1891Doulton & Co (Ltd from 1899), Burslem; Royal Doulton (name from 1901/02)Maker [73][74][75][76][77][78][79]
Interlocking-D roundel (with or without crown) with ENGLAND below1891 to about 1902Doulton & Co (Ltd from 1899), Burslem; Royal Doulton (name from 1901/02)Maker [73][74][75][76][77][78][79]
ROYAL DOULTON / ENGLAND: lion standing on a crown above the interlocking-D roundelabout 1901 onDoulton & Co (Ltd from 1899), Burslem; Royal Doulton (name from 1901/02)Maker [73][74][75][76][77][78][79]
T. MAYER / STOKE (circular impressed) or printed T MAYER STOKE UPON TRENT, often with an eagle-and-scroll printed markabout 1826 to about 1835Thomas Mayer; T. & J. Mayer; T. J. & J. Mayer; Mayer Bros & ElliotMaker [4][15][80][81][82][83][84]
P. W. & W. (Podmore, Walker & Wedgwood)1856 to 1859Podmore, Walker & Co; Podmore, Walker & Wedgwood (from 1856); successor Wedgwood & Co (Ltd), later Enoch Wedgwood (Tunstall) LtdMaker [4][35][85][86]
WEDGWOOD & CO LTD or LD (impressed or printed; unicorn trade mark used before its 1910 registration)1900 to 1965Podmore, Walker & Co; Podmore, Walker & Wedgwood (from 1856); successor Wedgwood & Co (Ltd), later Enoch Wedgwood (Tunstall) LtdMaker [4][35][85][86]
Phoenix bird with J. CLEMENTSON and pattern/body name (e.g. IRONSTONE / TILLENBERG)about 1839 to about 1867Joseph Clementson; Clementson Bros (Ltd from 1910)Maker [4][15][87][88][89]
HILL POTTERY / B & L with pattern name1868 to 1889Burgess, Leigh & Co / Burgess & Leigh (Ltd from 1919); Burgess, Dorling & Leigh (1999-2010); BurleighMaker [4][90][91][92][93][94]
MIDDLEPORT (e.g. BURGESS & LEIGH / MIDDLEPORT / ROYAL SEMI PORCELAIN / ENGLAND)1889 onBurgess, Leigh & Co / Burgess & Leigh (Ltd from 1919); Burgess, Dorling & Leigh (1999-2010); BurleighMaker [4][90][91][92][93][94]
B & L LTD or BURGESS & LEIGH LTD1919 onBurgess, Leigh & Co / Burgess & Leigh (Ltd from 1919); Burgess, Dorling & Leigh (1999-2010); BurleighMaker [4][90][91][92][93][94]
M S & Co / STOKE in a crowned shield (style taken over from G. T. Mountford)1898 to 1902Myott, Son & Co (Ltd from 1942)Maker [95][96]
RIDGWAY POTTERIES LTD / MADE IN STAFFORDSHIRE with style name HOMEMAKERabout 1957 to about 1968Ridgway Potteries Ltd (formerly Ridgway, Adderley, Booths & Colcloughs Ltd)Maker [97][98][99][100]

Staffordshire transferware and ironstone makers

Marks are described in words; we don’t reproduce them. A one source flag means we found only one source for that mark’s dates, so it stays out of the tool and the cheat sheet. Several sources contain typing errors in dates; we quoted around them and say so in our research notes.

29 of 29 makers
MakerMarks, in words, and years usedDating tipSources
Josiah Spode (Spode)Church Street, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. 1776-1833 (1770 is the traditional founding date the later firm adopted)
  • SPODE or Spode (name mark), painted (often in red), printed (usually blue or black) or impressed, often with a pattern numberone sourceabout 1780 to 1833 painted, printed or impressed
  • SPODE & COPELAND or SPODE, SON & COPELAND (trading names of Spode's London shop)one sourceabout 1797 to about 1820 impressed or printed
  • Stone-China mark: SPODE over a pseudo-Chinese seal, with the words Stone Chinaone sourceabout 1812 to about 1833 printed (underglaze, black or blue)
  • Spode in script with Felspar Porcelainone source1821 to 1833 printed
  • Prince of Wales's three feathers and motto Ich Dien with the Spode nameone source1806 to 1820 printed

Some pieces have an impressed SPODE plus a printed Copeland & Garrett mark. These are blanks made before the 1833 name change and decorated afterward, so date the decoration to 1833 or later.

[4][15][27][28][101][102][103]
Copeland & GarrettSpode Works, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. 1833-1847
  • COPELAND & GARRETT or C & G, often with LATE SPODE and sometimes a body name (for example Felspar Porcelain, New Blanche, New Fayence)1833 to 1847 printed (underglaze transfer) or impressed
  • COPELAND & GARRETT in a circle or wreath under a crown, enclosing the body name (for example NEW BLANCHE)1833 to 1847 printed and impressed
  • Reproduction Copeland and Garrett mark with Made in England and a copyright date (for example (c)1997, (c)2000; a (c)2007 version adds 'A Spode Company' and omits Made in England)one sourceabout 1997 on printed

Treat a Copeland & Garrett mark that also carries a copyright symbol, Made in England, or dishwasher/microwave wording as a modern Spode reissue (from about 1997), not a piece from 1833-47.

[4][7][24][25][26][27][28]
W.T. Copeland (from 1867 W.T. Copeland & Sons; renamed Spode Ltd in 1970)Spode Works, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. 1847-1970 as Copeland (& Sons from 1867); Spode Ltd from 1970
  • COPELAND LATE SPODE (also Copeland over Late Spode)1847 to about 1867 printed or impressed
  • COPELAND (plain name)one source1847 to about 1970 impressed
  • COPELAND impressed in a curve over a crownone sourceabout 1850 on impressed
  • W T COPELAND & SONS (name marks adding '& Sons')1867 to about 1970 printed or impressed
  • 'Frank's Boat Mark': sailing boat with Copeland Late Spode Trade Mark (no registration number)one sourceabout 1887 to 1894 printed
  • 'Frank's Boat Mark' with Copeland Late Spode, Rd No 180288 and Englandone source1894 to about 1910 printed
  • Spode script logo in red ('Gothic' style) by John Sutherland-Hawes, Spode Ltdone source1970 to 2009 printed

Read any small letter over two digits impressed on a flat piece (for example A over 80) as a month and year code, used from 1870 to 1957 on earthenware and to 1963 on bone china. A plain 'Copeland Late Spode' with no '& Sons' points to 1847-67.

[4][7][27][28][29][30][31]
Josiah Wedgwood (& Sons; incorporated as Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd 1895)Burslem, then Etruria (from 1769), later Barlaston, Staffordshire. 1759-present (styled Josiah Wedgwood & Sons from 1827)
  • WEDGWOOD in capitals with serifs (early examples with letters stamped one by one, uneven or curved)one source1759 to about 1929 impressed
  • WEDGWOOD & BENTLEY or W & B; on vases often a circular mark with Etruria, letters raisedabout 1768 to 1780 impressed or raised (in relief)
  • Wedgwood in upper and lower caseone source1780 to about 1795 impressed
  • WEDGWOOD with ENGLAND1891 to about 1908 impressed
  • WEDGWOOD with MADE IN ENGLANDabout 1908 on impressed
  • WEDGWOOD in sans-serif capitalsabout 1929 on impressed
  • WEDGWOOD with a picture of the Portland Vase (bone china)one sourceabout 1878 on printed
  • WEDGWOOD on the stone china rangeone source1820 to 1861 printed

Check for '& Co': Josiah Wedgwood's firm never used it, so WEDGWOOD & CO is another maker (see the next entry). On a genuine Wedgwood piece, serifs on an impressed name with no ENGLAND point to before 1891.

[4][15][32][33][34]
Wedgwood & Co. (Ltd), Tunstall – NOT Josiah Wedgwood & Sons (also: Ralph Wedgwood & Co., Knottingley/Ferrybridge)Unicorn and Pinnox Works, Tunstall, Staffordshire. 1860-1965 (then Enoch Wedgwood (Tunstall) Ltd to 1980)
  • WEDGWOOD & CO (Enoch Wedgwood's Tunstall firm), alone or with a body name such as STONE CHINA or ROYAL STONE CHINAone source1860 on impressed (also within printed marks)
  • WEDGWOOD & CO LTD, or Wedgwood & Co Ld (the 'LD' sometimes squeezed onto an older stamp)one source1900 to 1965 impressed or printed
  • Wedgwood & Co. (Ralph Wedgwood's partnership at the Knottingley, later Ferrybridge, Pottery, Yorkshire)about 1796 to about 1804 impressed
  • WEDGWOOD & Co. or WEDGEWOOD stamped by William Smith & Co., Stockton-on-Teesone sourceuntil 1848 impressed

'& Co' or 'Ltd' after WEDGWOOD rules out Josiah Wedgwood & Sons. 'Estd 1835' or 'Founded in 1835' on these Tunstall marks is the date of a predecessor firm, not the year the piece was made.

[4][15][32][35]
Davenport (John Davenport; W. Davenport & Co. from 1835; Davenports Ltd from 1881)Longport, Burslem, Staffordshire. 1793-1887
  • Davenport in lower-case lettersone sourceabout 1793 to about 1810 impressed
  • DAVENPORT in capitals, often over an anchor; the last two digits of a year are sometimes placed either side of the anchor (for example 4 and 2 for 1842)one sourceabout 1805 on impressed
  • Garter reading DAVENPORT LONGPORT STAFFORDSHIRE around an anchor, with Stone China in script1805 to about 1820 printed
  • Pattern name with DAVENPORT in many printed cartouches (often underglaze blue)one sourceabout 1815 to about 1850 printed (underglaze transfer)

Look for the anchor. Jewitt says it is on nearly every Davenport mark, and two numbers beside an impressed anchor can give the year (4 and 2 = 1842). A crown on Davenport porcelain was first used on the royal service made for William IV.

[4][15][36][37]
Enoch Wood & Sons (earlier Enoch Wood; Wood & Caldwell)Fountain Place Works, Burslem, Staffordshire. 1818-1846 as Enoch Wood & Sons (Wood & Caldwell c.1790-1818)
  • E W or E WOODone sourceabout 1784 to about 1818 impressed
  • ENOCH WOOD & SONS, E WOOD & SONS or E W & S, alone or within printed pattern marksabout 1818 to 1846 impressed or printed
  • Eagle with ENOCH WOOD & SONS BURSLEM STAFFORDSHIRE and SEMI CHINA WARRANTEDabout 1818 to 1846 impressed

'& SONS' in the mark means 1818 or later. Busts of John Wesley with an Enoch Wood inscription were copied by other potters, so the inscription alone does not prove Wood made the piece.

[4][15][34][38][39]
James & Ralph Clews (R. & J. Clews)Cobridge Works, Cobridge, Staffordshire. Disputed: 1815-1834 (thepotteries.org, citing Coysh & Henrywood); about 1814-1836 (Chaffers 1886); James Clews at the Cobridge Works 1819-1829 (Jewitt 1878)
  • CLEWS WARRANTED STAFFORDSHIRE, usually between circles around a crownabout 1815 to about 1834 impressed
  • CLEWS aloneone sourceabout 1815 to about 1834 impressed
  • Pseudo-Chinese seal with CLEWS and the words Stone Chinaone sourceabout 1815 to about 1834 printed

Clews copied Spode's Castle pattern, so a Castle-pattern plate is not necessarily Spode; turn it over for the crowned CLEWS WARRANTED STAFFORDSHIRE mark. Their Solar Rays pattern usually has only the pattern mark, with no maker's name.

[4][15][34][40]
Ralph Stevenson (also Stevenson & Williams / R. Stevenson, Alcock & Williams; R. Stevenson & Son)Lower Manufactory, Cobridge, Staffordshire. 1810-c.1835 (on his own account from November 1810; bankrupt 1835-36 per thepotteries.org; Chaffers says the business ended about 1840)
  • R S or R STEVENSON, alone or in blue-printed pattern marksone sourceabout 1810 to about 1832 printed or impressed
  • STEVENSON with a crown device and STAFFORDSHIRE, the words often slightly curvedone sourceabout 1810 to about 1832 impressed
  • STEVENSON & WILLIAMS COBRIDGE STAFFORDSHIRE, or STEVENSON, ALCOCK & WILLIAMS (ornate)one sourceabout 1824 to 1827 printed
  • R S & S or R STEVENSON & SONabout 1832 to about 1835 printed or impressed

'& S' or '& SON' after R STEVENSON means the 1830s partnership with his son. A plain STEVENSON or an A. STEVENSON crown mark may be his brother Andrew's work, so read the initials carefully.

[4][15][41][42][43]
John & George Rogers; John Rogers & SonDale Hall, Longport (Burslem), Staffordshire. J. & G. Rogers 1784-1814/15; John Rogers & Son 1814/15 to 1836 (thepotteries.org) or 1842 (Jewitt)
  • ROGERS, sometimes with the astronomical sign for Mars (iron)about 1784 to about 1836 impressed (also printed)

ROGERS alone cannot tell the brothers' period from the John Rogers & Son period, so use pattern and body to narrow the date. The Mars sign on its own is not proof of Rogers, because other makers used it.

[4][15][44]
Ridgway family firms: Job Ridgway (& Sons); John & William Ridgway; John Ridgway (& Co); William Ridgway (& Co); Ridgways (Bedford Works). Ridgway Potteries Ltd (1955+) is covered elsewhere.Cauldon Place and Bell Works, Shelton; Church Works, Hanley; Bedford Works, Shelton (Staffordshire). Cauldon Place founded c.1794/1802 by Job Ridgway; J. & W. Ridgway 1814-1830; John Ridgway (& Co) 1830-1855; William Ridgway (& Co) 1830-1854; Ridgways (Bedford Works) 1879-1920, Ltd 1920-1952
  • J & W RIDGWAY, J & W R or J W R, often with a pattern name (for example India Temple, Stone China)1814 to 1830 printed or impressed
  • J R, I R or JOHN RIDGWAY; the basic mark is the Royal Arms with the initials in the ribbon belowone source1830 to about 1841 printed
  • J R & Co or JOHN RIDGWAY & COabout 1841 to 1855 printed
  • W R or W RIDGWAYone source1830 to 1834 printed or impressed
  • W R & Co or W RIDGWAY & CO, including a vase and anchor device1834 to 1854 printed or impressed
  • W R S & Co (William Ridgway, Son & Co)one sourceabout 1838 to about 1848 printed or impressed
  • Ridgways with a bow and quiver, no place nameone sourceabout 1880 to about 1885 printed
  • Ridgways with Stoke-on-Trentone sourceabout 1885 to about 1890 printed

'Ridgways' (plural) means the Bedford Works firm, 1879 or later, not the earlier Cauldon Place or Bell Works Ridgways. Small impressed numbers such as 6/88 on Ridgways ware can be a month/year of manufacture (June 1888).

[4][15][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]
William Adams (& Co; W. Adams & Sons; William Adams & Sons (Potters) Ltd)Greengates and Greenfield, Tunstall, and Stoke, Staffordshire. 1769-1966 (acquired by the Wedgwood Group 1966; brand used into the 1990s)
  • ADAMS or ADAMS & COone source1785 on impressed
  • ADAMS WARRANTED STAFFORDSHIRE in a circle around an eagleone sourceabout 1804 to about 1840 impressed
  • W ADAMS & SONS or W A & S, in various printed marks (including a belt mark with an eagle)about 1819 to about 1864 printed

'Estd 1657' or 'Established A.D. 1657' on Adams marks refers to an ancestor's Burslem pottery and is not a manufacturing date. Those marks are late (the 1906 advertisement uses the wording).

[4][53][54]
Mason family (Miles Mason; G.M. & C.J. Mason; C.J. Mason & Co.) and Mason's Patent Ironstone China, later continued by G.L. Ashworth & BrosLane Delph (Minerva Works, then Fenton Stone Works), Fenton, Staffordshire; Ashworth at Broad Street, Hanley. Masons c.1800-1854; patterns and molds passed via Francis Morley to G.L. Ashworth & Bros (1859/1862), renamed Mason's Ironstone China Ltd 1968
  • M MASON or MILES MASONone sourceabout 1800 to 1813 impressed
  • PATENT IRONSTONE CHINA, with or without MASON'S1813 on impressed
  • MASON'S PATENT IRONSTONE CHINA on a ribbon below a crownone sourceabout 1815 on printed (usually underglaze blue)
  • G M & C J MASON, or G & C J Mabout 1813 to about 1829 printed
  • FENTON STONE WORKS in a box outlineone sourceabout 1825 to about 1840 printed
  • C J MASON & CO or C J M & COone sourceabout 1829 to 1845 printed
  • Mason's printed mark with ASHWORTH added; Ashworth marks with REAL IRONSTONE CHINA and the Royal Arms; A BROS or G L A & BROSabout 1862 to about 1968 printed (and ASHWORTH impressed)

The crowned 'Mason's Patent Ironstone China' mark was used by later owners up to the Wedgwood era, so look for ASHWORTH, ENGLAND (after 1891) or later wording before calling a piece a Mason original. The patent dates from 1813 (Chaffers says 1814), so any earlier date on such a mark is false.

[4][15][55][56][57][58][59]
Minton (Minton & Boyle; Herbert Minton & Co. / Minton & Co.; Mintons; Mintons Ltd)Eldon Place / London Road, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. 1793-1968 as an independent firm (Mintons Ltd incorporated 1884; Doulton subsidiary from 1968)
  • M & B (often in script within a scroll cartouche), sometimes with Felspar Porcelain or a pattern name1836 to about 1841 printed
  • M & Co (often in script), in many printed pattern marksabout 1841 to about 1873 printed
  • MINTONabout 1861 to about 1873 impressed
  • MINTONS (plural)one sourceabout 1873 on impressed
  • Ermine spot (heraldic ermine tail)about 1850 to about 1870 printed or painted (in gold or colors)
  • Standard printed name mark with a crown above (MINTONS), ENGLAND added from 1891one sourceabout 1873 to about 1912 printed

An impressed MINTON (singular) points roughly to the 1860s to early 1870s, and MINTONS (plural) to the mid-1870s or later. For the exact year, read the separate impressed year cypher (from 1842). ENGLAND with an M & Co print means 1891 or later, even when the pattern was registered decades earlier.

[4][15][60][61][62][63]
Johnson Bros (Hanley) Ltd ("Johnson Brothers")Charles Street Works, Hanley, with further works in Hanley and at Scotia Road, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. 1883-2003 (UK manufacture); name used on China-made ware until discontinued after 2015
  • ROYAL IRONSTONE CHINA / JOHNSON BROS / LATE PANKHURST & CO, with the Royal Arms1883 printed
  • ROYAL IRONSTONE CHINA / JOHNSON BROS / ENGLAND on the Royal Armsone source1883 to 1913 printed
  • ROYAL SEMI-PORCELAIN / JOHNSON BROS / ENGLAND, with a crownone sourceabout 1900 on printed
  • JOHNSON BROS / ENGLAND under a crown (often with pattern name)one sourceabout 1913 on printed
  • JOHNSON BROS / ENGLAND / 1883 (no 'Made in')one source2003 to 2015 printed

The '1883' on a Johnson Bros backstamp is the founding year, not a production date; a mark reading 'Johnson Bros England 1883' without 'Made in' appears on ware made in China after 2003.

[64][65][66][67]
Alfred Meakin (Ltd); Alfred Meakin (Tunstall) Ltd from 1913Royal Albert Pottery (later Royal Albert, Victoria & Highgate/Newfield Potteries), Tunstall. 1873-1976 (then Myott-Meakin Ltd)
  • ROYAL IRONSTONE CHINA / A. MEAKIN / ENGLAND (the old C & A Meakin stamp with the 'C' removed)one source1873 printed
  • Globe mark with ALFRED MEAKINone sourceabout 1875 to about 1897 printed
  • ROYAL SEMI-PORCELAIN / ALFRED MEAKINone sourceabout 1891 on printed
  • Any mark with ALFRED MEAKIN LTD (e.g. Royal Semi-Porcelain Alfred Meakin Ltd; round mark with LTD introduced c.1907)one sourceabout 1897 to about 1930 printed
  • ALFRED MEAKIN / ENGLAND under a crown, no LTDone sourceabout 1930 on printed
  • GVIR cypher with ALFRED MEAKIN ENGLAND and a year (government canteen ware)one sourceabout 1939 to about 1945 printed

LTD in an Alfred Meakin mark places it between 1897 and about 1930; a crowned 'Alfred Meakin England' with no LTD is about 1930 or later.

[4][96][104][105][106]
J. & G. Meakin (Ltd from 1890)Eagle Pottery, Hanley (from 1859); earlier Cannon Street and Market Street, Hanley. 1851-2000
  • J. & G. MEAKIN impressed, with printed IRONSTONE CHINA / J. & G. MEAKIN (Royal Arms), no ENGLANDabout 1878 to about 1890 impressed and printed
  • IRONSTONE CHINA / Royal Arms / J. & G. MEAKIN / HANLEY / ENGLANDone source1891 on printed
  • ROYAL SEMI PORCELAIN / globe over an American eagle / J & G MEAKIN / ENGLANDone sourceabout 1891 to about 1912 printed
  • IRONSTONE CHINA / J & G MEAKIN / 1869one sourceabout 1869 on printed
  • SOL (trade name) with J & G MEAKINone source1912 to 1963 printed

On J & G Meakin ironstone, ENGLAND under the Royal Arms means 1891 or later, and a printed '1869' is not the year the piece was made.

[4][7][68][69][70]
Wood & Son; Wood & Sons (from 1907); Wood & Sons Ltd (from 1910)Trent and New Wharf Potteries, Burslem (later also Stanley Pottery, Burslem). 1865-2005
  • WOOD & SON / ENGLAND (incl. ROYAL SEMI-PORCELAIN and Royal Arms ironstone versions)about 1891 to about 1907 printed
  • WOOD & SONS / ENGLAND (no LTD)about 1907 to about 1910 printed
  • WOOD & SONS LTD / ENGLANDabout 1910 on printed
  • WOOD'S WARE (with or without apostrophe)one sourceabout 1917 on printed
  • RALPH 1750 / ENOCH 1784 (sometimes MOSES 1751) with WOODS BURSLEM ENGLANDone sourceabout 1931 on printed

'& Son' (singular) means before 1907, '& Sons' 1907 or later, and the dates 1750 or 1784 in a Wood mark are family history, not the year the piece was made.

[71][72]
Doulton & Co (Ltd from 1899), Burslem; Royal Doulton (name from 1901/02)Nile Street Works, Burslem. 1882 (Doulton & Co name at Burslem, succeeding Pinder, Bourne & Co) – 2005 (Nile Street manufacturing ceased)
  • Four interlocking D's in a circular roundel with DOULTON / BURSLEM, no ENGLAND (some versions without the crown)1882 to about 1891 printed
  • Same interlocking-D roundel with a crown aboveone source1886 to about 1901 printed
  • Interlocking-D roundel (with or without crown) with ENGLAND below1891 to about 1902 printed
  • DOULTON / BURSLEM / ENGLAND, often with month-year numbers (e.g. 1-96)one sourceabout 1891 on impressed
  • ROYAL DOULTON / ENGLAND: lion standing on a crown above the interlocking-D roundelabout 1901 on printed
  • MADE IN ENGLAND added to the Royal Doulton lion markone sourceabout 1930 on printed
  • ENGLISH TRANSLUCENT CHINA / DOULTON & CO LIMITED with Royal Doulton markone source1960 on printed

On Burslem wares, no ENGLAND under the Doulton roundel means before 1891, and the words ROYAL DOULTON with the lion mean 1901-02 or later; date codes in that mark are covered separately.

[73][74][75][76][77][78][79]
Thomas Mayer; T. & J. Mayer; T. J. & J. Mayer; Mayer Bros & ElliotCliff Bank Works, Stoke (c.1826-35), then Dale Hall Works, Longport, Burslem. c.1826-1858
  • T. MAYER / STOKE (circular impressed) or printed T MAYER STOKE UPON TRENT, often with an eagle-and-scroll printed markabout 1826 to about 1835 impressed and printed
  • T. MAYER / LONGPORTone sourceabout 1836 to about 1838 printed
  • T & J MAYER / LONGPORT (with pattern name)one sourceabout 1838 to about 1843 printed
  • T. J. & J. MAYER (often with Royal Arms, DALE HALL POTTERY LONGPORT; some read PRIZE MEDAL 1851)one sourceabout 1843 to 1855 printed
  • MAYER BROS & ELLIOTone source1855 to 1858 printed

STOKE in a T. Mayer mark points to about 1826-35, LONGPORT to 1836 or later; a third initial (T. J. & J.) means 1843-55.

[4][15][80][81][82][83][84]
Podmore, Walker & Co; Podmore, Walker & Wedgwood (from 1856); successor Wedgwood & Co (Ltd), later Enoch Wedgwood (Tunstall) LtdWell Street, Swan Bank and Pinnox Works, Tunstall (Wedgwood & Co: Unicorn and Pinnox Works, Tunstall). Podmore, Walker & Co 1834-1859; Wedgwood & Co 1860-1965; Enoch Wedgwood (Tunstall) Ltd 1965-1980
  • P. W. & Co (often with STONE WARE, PEARL STONE WARE or IRONSTONE and a pattern name, e.g. ASIATIC PHEASANTS)one sourceabout 1834 to about 1856 printed
  • P. W. & W. (Podmore, Walker & Wedgwood)1856 to 1859 printed
  • WEDGWOOD alone (e.g. PEARL STONE WARE / WEDGWOOD with pattern CALIFORNIA, registered 2 April 1849)one sourceabout 1849 to about 1859 printed
  • WEDGWOOD & CO (impressed, or in printed marks, e.g. ROYAL STONE CHINA with Royal Arms)one source1860 to 1900 impressed and printed
  • WEDGWOOD & CO LTD or LD (impressed or printed; unicorn trade mark used before its 1910 registration)1900 to 1965 impressed and printed

A mark reading 'Wedgwood & Co' or plain 'WEDGWOOD' on 1840s-50s Tunstall transferware is Enoch Wedgwood's firm, not Josiah Wedgwood; 'Ltd' or 'Ld' after the name means 1900 or later.

[4][35][85][86]
Joseph Clementson; Clementson Bros (Ltd from 1910)Phoenix Works and (from 1855/56) Bell Works, Shelton/Hanley. 1839 (sole proprietor after Read & Clementson) – 1916 (Clementson Bros ceased manufacturing)
  • Phoenix bird with J. CLEMENTSON and pattern/body name (e.g. IRONSTONE / TILLENBERG)about 1839 to about 1867 printed
  • SHELTON as the place name (printed or impressed, e.g. STONE WARE / CLEMENTSON / SHELTON)one sourceabout 1839 to 1857 printed and impressed
  • CLEMENTSON BROTHERS / ROYAL PATENT STONE WARE / HANLEYone sourceabout 1870 to about 1910 printed
  • CLEMENTSON BROS / ENGLAND (phoenix or Royal Arms)one sourceabout 1880 on printed
  • Crown in place of the phoenix (e.g. SEMI CHINA / CLEMENTSON BROS / ENGLAND)one sourceabout 1901 to 1913 printed
  • CLEMENTSON BROS LIMITED (e.g. SPECIAL WHITE STONE WARE)one source1910 to 1916 printed

SHELTON in a Clementson mark means before 1857 and HANLEY after; but do not use ENGLAND alone to date Clementson Bros ware, since they used it before 1891.

[4][15][87][88][89]
W. H. Grindley & Co (Ltd from 1925 in marks)Newfield Pottery, Tunstall (1880-91); Woodland Pottery, Tunstall (from 1891). 1880-1991
  • Belt mark with GRINDLEY & CO / TUNSTALL and pattern nameone sourceabout 1880 to about 1891 printed
  • Globe and steamship trade mark with W. H. GRINDLEY & CO / TUNSTALLone sourceabout 1880 to about 1891 printed
  • Globe and steamship trade mark with W. H. GRINDLEY & CO / ENGLAND (also SEMI-PORCELAIN versions)one sourceabout 1891 to about 1914 printed
  • ROYAL IRONSTONE CHINA / Royal Arms / W. H. GRINDLEY & CO / ENGLANDone sourceabout 1891 to about 1925 printed
  • W. H. GRINDLEY & CO LTD / ENGLANDone sourceabout 1925 on printed
  • Sailing ship in a frame with GRINDLEY ENGLAND (rarely with TUNSTALL, c.1936-40)one sourceabout 1936 to about 1954 printed
  • Sailboat in a shield with GRINDLEYone sourceabout 1954 on printed

TUNSTALL without ENGLAND on a globe-and-steamship or belt mark means 1880-91, but a sailing-ship mark that says TUNSTALL is a 1936-40 variant.

[107][108]
Burgess, Leigh & Co / Burgess & Leigh (Ltd from 1919); Burgess, Dorling & Leigh (1999-2010); BurleighCentral Pottery (1862-68), Hill Pottery (1868-89), then Middleport Pottery, Port Street, Burslem. 1862-present (Burleigh brand; Denby-owned from 2010)
  • B & L & Co with a registration diamond and pattern name (e.g. KENSINGTON)one sourceabout 1862 to about 1867 printed
  • HILL POTTERY / B & L with pattern name1868 to 1889 printed
  • MIDDLEPORT (e.g. BURGESS & LEIGH / MIDDLEPORT / ROYAL SEMI PORCELAIN / ENGLAND)1889 on printed
  • BURLEIGH WARE (brand name, often with B & L)one source1903 on printed
  • Globe mark with BURGESS & LEIGH / BURSLEM / ENGLAND (MIDDLEPORT POTTERY added c.1912)one source1906 to about 1939 printed
  • B & L LTD or BURGESS & LEIGH LTD1919 on printed
  • ESTD 1851 (e.g. BURLEIGH WARE / BURGESS & LEIGH LTD / ESTD 1851 / BURSLEM / ENGLAND)one sourceabout 1930 on printed
  • B D & L or BURGESS, DORLING & LEIGHone source1999 to 2010 printed

'Estd 1851' on a Burleigh mark is the predecessor's date, not the piece's; HILL POTTERY means 1868-89 and MIDDLEPORT means 1889 or later.

[4][90][91][92][93][94]
Booths (Ltd), successor to T. G. & F. BoothChurch Bank Works, Tunstall (from c.1912 also Swan and Soho Potteries, Tunstall). 1891-1948 (then Booths & Colclough Ltd; Ridgway Potteries from 1955)
  • ROYAL SEMI PORCELAIN / BOOTHS / ENGLAND, often with pattern name (no SILICON CHINA)one sourceabout 1891 to about 1906 printed
  • BOOTHS / SILICON CHINA / ENGLAND (trade name for a thin, light earthenware)one sourceabout 1906 on printed
  • Crowned BOOTHS / SILICON CHINA mark, often with 1750 split either side, with or without ENGLAND / MADE IN ENGLANDone sourceabout 1912 on printed
  • Blue crescent or copied 18th-century Worcester marks on Booths reproductionsone sourceabout 1905 to about 1920 printed or painted
  • Printed BBB marks, sometimes with BOOTHS LIMITED ENGLAND or MADE IN GREAT BRITAINone sourceabout 1930 to 1948 printed

The '1750' on a Booths Silicon China mark is not a manufacture or founding date; and a blue crescent on opaque (not translucent) ware points to a Booths reproduction, not Worcester.

[109][110][111]
Myott, Son & Co (Ltd from 1942)Alexander Pottery, Wolfe Street, Stoke (1898-1902); Alexander Pottery/Potteries, Cobridge (Hanley) from 1902. 1898-1976 (then Myott-Meakin Ltd)
  • M S & Co / STOKE in a crowned shield (style taken over from G. T. Mountford)1898 to 1902 printed
  • M S & Co / ENGLAND (with or without SEMI PORCELAIN)one sourceabout 1900 on printed
  • IMPERIAL SEMI PORCELAIN / MYOTT SON & CO / ENGLANDone sourceabout 1907 on printed
  • MYOTT'S / ROYAL CROWN / STAFFORDSHIRE / ENGLAND (range name, not a pattern)one sourceabout 1930 on printed
  • MYOTT SON & CO / HANLEY / EST: 1880 (e.g. England's Countryside, Shakespeare Land)one sourceabout 1930 to about 1939 printed
  • BY with MYOTT SON & CO LTD / MADE IN ENGLANDone source1945 to 1952 printed
  • MYOTT'S CHINA-LYKE WARE / STAFFORDSHIRE / ENGLANDone sourceabout 1959 on printed

'Est 1880' on a Myott backstamp is the predecessor Mountford's date, so it says nothing about the piece; 'M S & Co Stoke' is the only mark limited to 1898-1902.

[95][96]
Ridgway Potteries Ltd (formerly Ridgway, Adderley, Booths & Colcloughs Ltd)Ash Hall, Stoke-on-Trent (headquarters); factories incl. Bedford Works, Shelton and Church Bank, Tunstall. February 1955-1972 (merged with Royal Doulton; Grace's gives 1975)
  • ROYAL SWAN without the Booths name, often with month-year (e.g. 12-55)one source1955 on printed
  • RIDGWAY POTTERIES LTD / MADE IN STAFFORDSHIRE with style name HOMEMAKERabout 1957 to about 1968 printed
  • 'A Product of Ridgway Potteries Ltd' added to subsidiary marks (Royal Adderley, Colclough, Royal Vale, etc.)one sourceabout 1960 on printed
  • Month/year numbers printed either side of the backstamp (e.g. 2 / 68)one sourceabout 1960 to about 1978 printed
  • VITROCK hotel ware ('Strong as a rock'), with Ridgway Potteries Ltdone sourceabout 1955 on printed

Printed month-year numbers either side of a Ridgway backstamp give the production date directly (2 / 68 = February 1968); the brand also carried on under Royal Doulton into the late 1970s and early 1980s.

[97][98][99][100]
Ridgways (Bedford Works) LtdBedford Works, Shelton, Hanley. 1920-1952
  • Bow and quiver trade mark with diamond mark and RIDGWAYS / ENGLAND, impressed month/yearone source1920 to about 1952 printed and impressed
  • RIDGWAYS / SHELTON / ENGLAND / EST 1792 or EST 1792 RIDGWAY MADE IN ENGLANDone sourceabout 1930 on printed

'Engraved for W. Ridgway & Co 1832' or 'Est 1792' in a Ridgways mark is pattern or family history; the impressed month/year number is the real production date.

[52][98]
Thomas Elsmore & SonClayhills (Clay Hill) Pottery, Tunstall. 1872-1887
  • T. ELSMORE & SON / ENGLAND (or ELSMORE & SON / ENGLAND), sometimes with TUNSTALL, Royal Arms, or PARISIAN GRANITE with a French Imperial eagleone source1872 to 1887 printed and impressed

Elsmore & Son is an exception to the 'ENGLAND means 1891+' rule: their ENGLAND marks date from 1872-87.

[4][112]

Clubs, museums and references: current addresses

Clubs, archives and museums in the Potteries hold the pattern records and factory archives that settle hard cases. Many older links on collector pages have broken: Steve Birks’s site moved to thepotteries.org, the Friends of Blue joined the Northern Ceramic Society, and the Stoke archives changed catalogs. Every address below was opened on October 6, 2026. Struck-through addresses are old ones that no longer work.

44 of 44 entries
Organization or resourceCurrent addressWhat it isOld address
Transferware Collectors ClubClubtransferwarecollectorsclub.orgUS-founded club for collectors, dealers, scholars and archaeologists interested in British transfer-printed pottery made from about 1760 to 1900, with a bulletin, annual meetings, and a members-only pattern database.Unchanged
TCC Database of Patterns & Sources (public preview)Clubtransferwarecollectorsclub.org/members/database/database-previewPublic preview of the club's database of transferware patterns and their print sources; full searching requires membership.https://transferwarecollectorsclub.org/database
Friends of the Spode MuseumClubspodemuseumtrust.org/about/support/friends-of-the-museum-ukSeparate charity, formed in 2006, that raises money for the Spode Museum Trust's collection projects; membership by form.http://www.spodemuseumtrust.org/spode-museum-friends.html
Northern Ceramic Society (incorporating Friends of Blue)Clubnorthernceramicsociety.orgUK society founded in 1972 for people who love British pottery and porcelain from 1600 on, with meetings, seminars, newsletters, journals and members-only research galleries; it now incorporates Friends of Blue.http://www.northernceramicsociety.org/index.asphttp://www.northernceramicsociety.org/homepage/homepage-dec/
White Ironstone China AssociationClubwhiteironstonechina.comUS collectors' association, incorporated 1994, for 19th- and 20th-century white ironstone, with articles on potters' marks, diamond and registry marks, conventions and a newsletter.Unchanged
Flow Blue International Collectors' ClubClubflowblue.orgCollectors' club founded in 1986 in Rockford, Illinois, for flow blue and mulberry china, with a newsletter, conventions and a pattern and shape identification database (limited access for nonmembers).http://www.flowblue.org/
Tiles & Architectural Ceramics Society (TACS)Clubtilesoc.org.uk/tacsBritain's national society, since 1981, for the study and conservation of tiles and architectural ceramics; journal, gazetteer and events. Relevant to Staffordshire tile makers such as Minton.https://www.tilesoc.org.uk/
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (Stoke-on-Trent)Museumstokemuseums.org.uk/pmagCity museum in Hanley holding what it calls the world's greatest collection of Staffordshire ceramics; partially open during a redevelopment. The Stoke-on-Trent City Archives are housed in the same building.Unchanged
Gladstone Pottery MuseumMuseumstokemuseums.org.uk/gpmPreserved Victorian pottery works with bottle ovens in Longton, run by the city council; tours, demonstrations and a ceramic makers market.Unchanged
V&A Wedgwood Collection (Barlaston)Museumvam.ac.uk/wedgwoodThe V&A's Wedgwood museum at Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, with articles on Wedgwood history and the Wedgwood manufacturing archive.Unchanged
World of WedgwoodMuseumworldofwedgwood.comVisitor attraction at the Wedgwood factory site in Barlaston that houses the galleries of the V&A Wedgwood Collection along with factory tours, studios and shops.Unchanged
Spode Museum TrustMuseumspodemuseumtrust.orgIndependent charitable trust set up by Spode in 1987 that owns the Spode collection and archive, runs the Spode Museum on the old factory site in Stoke, and offers an identification service for Spode and Copeland pieces.http://www.spodemuseumtrust.org/
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive ServiceArchivestaffordshire.gov.uk/leisure-parks-and-culture/archives-and-local-history/about-archives-serviceJoint county and city archive service with three sites: Staffordshire History Center in Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent City Archives at the Potteries Museum in Hanley (pottery company records such as Minton, Royal Doulton and Spode), and Lichfield.https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Heritage-and-archives/contact/stoke/StokeArchivesResearchService.aspxhttps://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/contact/stoke/home.aspx
Gateway to the Past (online catalogue)Archivearchives.staffordshire.gov.uk/CalmViewOnline catalog of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service and county museum: manuscripts, maps, photographs, museum objects and artworks. The place to search pottery firm records such as the Spode archive.http://www.archives.staffordshire.gov.uk/DServe/DServe.exe?dsqApp=Archive2&dsqCmd=Index.tcl
Spode Exhibition Online (spodeceramics.com)Referencespodeceramics.comFree online exhibition on Josiah Spode I and II and Spode blue-printed earthenware, including patterns, shapes, colors and marks, produced by the TCC with Winterthur and the Potteries Museum.Unchanged
The Potteries (thepotteries.org)Referencethepotteries.orgLong-running independent guide to Stoke-on-Trent history, including a directory of more than 2,000 pottery manufacturers, marks and backstamps, bottle kilns and historic photographs.http://www.netcentral.co.uk/steveb/index/index.htmhttp://www.thepotteries.org/index.htm
WICA White Ironstone China Online Identification GuideReferencesearch.whiteironstonechina.comFree searchable database of white ironstone shapes, potters, registry documents and marks.Unchanged
Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland: Historic CeramicsReferenceapps.jefpat.maryland.gov/diagnostic/HistoricCeramics/HistoricCeramics.aspxArchaeology lab's free online guide to datable artifacts from the Mid-Atlantic, with essays and comparison galleries on historic ceramic types including British earthenwares.https://apps.jefpat.maryland.gov/diagnostic/ColonialCeramics/index.htmhttps://apps.jefpat.maryland.gov/diagnostic/Post-Colonial Ceramics/index.htm
The National Archives: Registered designs 1839-1991 research guideReferencenationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/registered-designs-1839-1991Official guide to finding UK registered designs, including ceramics, from 1839 to 1991, with tables for decoding registration numbers and diamond marks.Unchanged
Historic England: Middleport Pottery (Burgess and Leigh) list entry 1297939Referencehistoricengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1297939Official listing description of the 1888-89 Middleport Pottery in Burslem, including its surviving bottle kiln.Unchanged
V&A Explore the CollectionsCollection searchvam.ac.uk/collectionsSearch page for the V&A's collection records, which include Staffordshire ceramics and the Wedgwood collection.https://collections.vam.ac.uk/
Fitzwilliam Museum: Explore our collectionCollection searchfitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-our-collectionCollection search for the University of Cambridge museum, whose holdings include a major ceramics department.https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/
British Museum Collection onlineCollection searchbritishmuseum.org/collectionOnline database of British Museum collection records, including British pottery and porcelain.Unchanged
Save the Wedgwood Collection appeal (2014)GoneNo successor foundArchived copyHIJACKED: the domain now redirects to a casino link site (epiclist.io / 'THABET').http://www.savewedgwood.org/
Save the Wedgwood Collection: video pageGoneNo successor foundArchived copySame hijacked domain.http://www.savewedgwood.org/news/video-save-the-wedgwood-collection
Wedgwood Museum (Barlaston)GoneNo successor foundArchived copyDomain does not resolve.http://www.wedgwoodmuseum.org.uk/
doulton.org.uk (Doulton Antiques)GoneNo successor foundArchived copyDoes not resolve.http://www.doulton.org.uk
Collecting Doulton magazineGoneNo successor foundArchived copyDoes not resolve.http://www.collectingdoulton.com
Royal Doulton Collectors Club (royaldoultoncollectorsclub.com)GoneNo successor foundArchived copyDoes not resolve.http://www.royaldoultoncollectorsclub.com
Beswick Collectors ClubGoneNo successor foundArchived copyDoes not resolve; no same-organization successor found.http://beswickcollectorsclub.com
beswickpottery.co.ukGoneNo successor foundArchived copyDealer-type site ('Find rare & collectable Beswick birds, animals & fish').http://beswickpottery.co.uk
beswickpotteryonline.co.ukGoneNo successor foundArchived copySales/info site.http://beswickpotteryonline.co.uk
beswickcollector.co.ukGoneNo successor foundArchived copyClassified-ads style Beswick site.http://beswickcollector.co.uk
beswickdogs.co.ukGoneNo successor foundArchived copySales site.http://beswickdogs.co.uk
beswick-horses.co.ukGoneNo successor foundArchived copyDealer site ('Buy Beswick Horse For Sale').http://beswick-horses.co.uk
collectablebeswick.comGoneNo successor foundArchived copyLast 200 capture titled 'Collectable Beswick Figurines'; content not further checked.http://collectablebeswick.com
beswick-collectibles.comGoneNo successor foundDoes not resolve.http://beswick-collectibles.com
Blue Transferware (bluetransferware.com)GoneNo successor foundArchived copyDoes not resolve.http://www.bluetransferware.com/
blueandwhite.com Spode archive page (Antique Golf series)GoneNo successor foundArchived copyDomain repurposed: blueandwhite.com is now a 'Blue&White – Pro-Dry' coming-soon page in Spanish.https://www.blueandwhite.com/museum.asp?m=Spode&p=The+Antique+Golf+Series+colour
San Francisco Ceramic Circle: museum list (on patricianantiques.com)GoneNo successor foundArchived copypatricianantiques.com fails (connection error over HTTP; invalid certificate in Chrome).http://www.patricianantiques.com/sfccmuseumlist.html
San Francisco Ceramic Circle page (on patricianantiques.com)GoneNo successor foundArchived copySame host failure.http://www.patricianantiques.com/sfcc.html
WICA museum handout PDFGoneNo successor foundArchived copy404 on WICA's live site, and the current Resources page has no museum list.http://whiteironstonechina.com/PDFForms/MuseumHandout.pdf
NCS Winter Weekend 2016 seminar pageGoneNo successor foundArchived copyPast event; last capture is a 301 (no 200 capture).http://www.northernceramicsociety.org/homepage/events/winter-weekend-seminar2/
NCS Winter Weekend 2016 PDFGoneNo successor foundArchived copyPast event flyer.http://www.northernceramicsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Winter-weekend-2016.pdf

For librarians, teachers and collector clubs

This guide is licensed CC BY 4.0. Link to it, print the cheat sheet, put it in a research guide, a club newsletter or a class packet; just credit The Mark Index. There are no ads and nothing to sign up for. Field schools and archaeology labs are welcome to put the cheat sheet in a lab manual with credit. Found an error or a better source? Tell us.

Chicago
The Mark Index Editors. “Staffordshire Pottery Marks: Dating English Transferware, Ironstone and Earthenware.” The Mark Index. Last modified October 6, 2026. https://themarkindex.com/staffordshire-pottery-marks/.
MLA
“Staffordshire Pottery Marks: Dating English Transferware, Ironstone and Earthenware.” The Mark Index, 6 Oct. 2026, themarkindex.com/staffordshire-pottery-marks/.
APA
The Mark Index Editors. (2026, October 6). Staffordshire pottery marks: Dating English transferware, ironstone and earthenware. The Mark Index. https://themarkindex.com/staffordshire-pottery-marks/
Link HTML
<a href="https://themarkindex.com/staffordshire-pottery-marks/">Staffordshire Pottery Marks: Dating English Transferware, Ironstone and Earthenware</a> (The Mark Index, CC BY 4.0)

How we built this guide

We read Steve Birks’s thepotteries.org, the Transferware Collectors Club’s published guidance, the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab’s Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland, the Florida Museum’s ceramic type collection, The National Archives’ guide to registered designs, Victoria and Albert Museum records, and Jewitt (1878) and Chaffers (1886) in full text. We opened every source on October 6, 2026 and kept the quotation that supports each date.

Our rule is two independent sources for every date. Of 145 maker’s marks, 43 have two or more; the other 102 carry a “one source” flag. Many collector pages restate Geoffrey Godden’s rules, so where two sources likely share one origin we say the clue is a guide. We could not read Godden’s own books online, and we found no dated source for “dishwasher safe” or “microwave” wording. We don’t put values on anything.

The directory was link-checked on October 6, 2026: 23 addresses answered, and 21 old resources are gone, listed with an archived copy. A few old addresses now lead to unrelated or gambling sites; we show those as text only.

Sources

  1. SecondaryAn Introduction to English China & Porcelain Marks. figurines-sculpture.com (collector hobby site).. figurines-sculpture.com
  2. SecondaryEvolution of British Pottery Marks. CU Conservation blog (student post), Cardiff University, 2021. Cites Birks 2005, Gates & Ormerod 1982, Worthy 1982.. blogs.cardiff.ac.uk
  3. SecondaryBirks, Steve. English Pottery Marks – A General Guide to Identification and Dating. thepotteries.org (page created 2004, updated 5 May 2026).. thepotteries.org
  4. SecondaryJewitt, Llewellynn. The Ceramic Art of Great Britain, vol. 2. London: Virtue, 1878 (archive.org scan, University of Toronto copy).. archive.org
  5. SecondaryBirks, Steve. Old Hall Works, Hanley. thepotteries.org (citing Victoria County History of Stafford vol. VIII and Jewitt).. thepotteries.org
  6. PrimaryThe National Archives (UK). Intellectual property: trade marks, 1876-1938 (research guide).. nationalarchives.gov.uk
  7. SecondarySussman, Lynne. The Ceramics of Lower Fort Garry: Operations 1 to 31. History and Archaeology 24. Ottawa: Parks Canada, 1979 (archive.org OCR text). Cites Godden 1964.. archive.org
  8. SecondaryTransferware Collectors Club. Frequently Asked Questions. transferwarecollectorsclub.org.. transferwarecollectorsclub.org
  9. SecondaryHays, Keith (text), hosted by Steve Birks. Dating Wedgwood. thepotteries.org (text (c) 1995 Keith Hays).. thepotteries.org
  10. SecondaryBone China. Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland, Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (JPPM).. apps.jefpat.maryland.gov
  11. SecondaryBirks, Steve. Pottery – British Registration numbers and diamonds. thepotteries.org.. thepotteries.org
  12. PrimaryThe National Archives (UK). Intellectual property: registered designs 1839-1991 (research guide), section 4.3.. nationalarchives.gov.uk
  13. SecondaryBirks, Steve. The Masons of Lane Delph. thepotteries.org.. thepotteries.org
  14. SecondaryFlorida Museum of Natural History. Ironstone, Undecorated. Historical Archaeology Type Collection (citing Noel Hume 1970; Miller 1991).. floridamuseum.ufl.edu
  15. SecondaryChaffers, William. Marks and Monograms on European and Oriental Pottery and Porcelain. London, 1886 ed. (archive.org scan).. archive.org
  16. SecondaryWhite Granite. Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland, Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (JPPM).. apps.jefpat.maryland.gov
  17. SecondaryBirks, Steve. The 1837 Change in the Royal Coat of Arms and its Importance for Pottery Marks. thepotteries.org (section created 2003, updated 29 April 2026).. thepotteries.org
  18. SecondaryFlags of the World. Royal Arms, United Kingdom (quoting the College of Arms Newsletter and College references I36/61, I51/127).. crwflags.com
  19. SecondaryBirks, Steve. Staffordshire Knot marks. thepotteries.org (quoting Godden's revision of Jewitt, 'Ceramic Art of Great Britain 1800-1900').. thepotteries.org
  20. SecondarySamford, Patricia. Printed Earthenware. Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland, Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum); date ranges from Samford 1997, Historical Archaeology 31(2).. apps.jefpat.maryland.gov
  21. SecondaryFlorida Museum of Natural History. Pearlware, Transfer Printed. Historical Archaeology Type Collection (citing Noel Hume, South, Miller 1991, Sussman, Samford 1997).. floridamuseum.ufl.edu
  22. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. Pot lid, T.J. & J. Mayer, 1851 (CIRC.789-1969), object record O78094 (V&A collections API).. collections.vam.ac.uk
  23. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. Bread plate, F. & R. Pratt, 1851 (C.629-1921), object record O8062 (V&A collections API).. collections.vam.ac.uk
  24. SecondarySpode Museum Trust. "The Copeland Period Part 1, 1833-1900." Timeline of Spode, spodemuseumtrust.org.. spodemuseumtrust.org
  25. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Copeland & Garrett – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  26. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Copeland & Garrett (updated 7 Oct 2025)".. thepotteries.org
  27. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Spode Ltd, 1970 onwards (created 11 Oct 2025)".. thepotteries.org
  28. SecondaryWoolliscroft, Pam (former curator, Spode Museum). "Dating Your Spode Pieces." Spode History (blog), 6 January 2011.. spodehistory.blogspot.com
  29. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "W. T. Copeland – Ceramic Trade Marks (updated 21 April 2004)".. thepotteries.org
  30. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "W T Copeland (and Sons) (updated 25 Nov 2025)".. thepotteries.org
  31. SecondarySpode Museum Trust. "The Second Spode Period 1966-2008." Timeline of Spode, spodemuseumtrust.org.. spodemuseumtrust.org
  32. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Josiah Wedgwood (& Sons Ltd) – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  33. SecondaryEtruria Antiques Gallery. "Wedgwood Marks." etruria.com.au (dealer reference page).. etruria.com.au
  34. SecondaryWedgwood, Josiah C. Staffordshire Pottery and its History. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., 1913. archive.org id staffordshirepot00wedg.. archive.org
  35. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Wedgwood & Co (Ltd) / Enoch Wedgwood (Tunstall) Ltd".. thepotteries.org
  36. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Davenport pottery, Longport".. thepotteries.org
  37. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Davenport – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  38. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Enoch Wood (& Sons) – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  39. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Enoch Wood & Sons".. thepotteries.org
  40. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Ralph & James Clews".. thepotteries.org
  41. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Ralph Stevenson – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  42. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Ralph Stevenson".. thepotteries.org
  43. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Stevenson & Williams – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  44. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "John & George Rogers – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  45. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Job Ridgway (& Sons) – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  46. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "John & William Ridgway".. thepotteries.org
  47. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "John Ridgway (& Co) – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  48. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "John Ridgway & Co".. thepotteries.org
  49. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "William Ridgway (& Co) – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  50. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "William Ridgway (& Co)".. thepotteries.org
  51. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Ridgways (Bedford Works, 1879-1920)".. thepotteries.org
  52. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Ridgways (Bedford Works) Ltd".. thepotteries.org
  53. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "William Adams & Sons (& Co)".. thepotteries.org
  54. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "William Adams – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  55. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Mason – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  56. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "George & Charles Mason".. thepotteries.org
  57. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Charles James Mason & Co".. thepotteries.org
  58. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Mason's Ironstone China".. thepotteries.org
  59. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "G L Ashworth & Bros (Ltd) – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  60. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Minton & Boyle".. thepotteries.org
  61. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Minton – Ceramic Trade Marks (updated 4 March 2004)".. thepotteries.org
  62. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Minton & Co (updated 3 Jan 2026)".. thepotteries.org
  63. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Mintons Ltd".. thepotteries.org
  64. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Johnson Bros, Hanley Ltd." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  65. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Johnson Bros (Hanley) Ltd" (marks page). thepotteries.org, n.d. Same author as the maker page; not independent.. thepotteries.org
  66. SecondaryZarucchi, Jeanne Morgan (curator). Johnson Brothers: A Visual History, chapter 1 'Old World Style for the New World'. University of Missouri-St. Louis, n.d.. johnsonbrothers.umsl.edu
  67. SecondaryWikipedia contributors. "Johnson Brothers." Wikipedia, accessed 2026-10-06.. en.wikipedia.org
  68. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "J & G Meakin." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  69. SecondaryGrace's Guide to British Industrial History. "J. and G. Meakin." gracesguide.co.uk, n.d.. gracesguide.co.uk
  70. SecondaryWikipedia contributors. "J. & G. Meakin." Wikipedia, accessed 2026-10-06.. en.wikipedia.org
  71. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Wood & Son (s, Ltd)." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  72. SecondaryGrace's Guide to British Industrial History. "Wood and Sons." gracesguide.co.uk, n.d.. gracesguide.co.uk
  73. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Doulton & Co (Ltd) / Royal Doulton." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  74. SecondaryPottery Histories. "Doulton history – marks." potteryhistories.com, n.d.. potteryhistories.com
  75. SecondaryGorringe's. "Guide to Royal Doulton." gorringes.co.uk, n.d. Text closely follows Pottery Histories (not independent).. gorringes.co.uk
  76. SecondaryGrace's Guide to British Industrial History. "Doulton and Co." gracesguide.co.uk, n.d.. gracesguide.co.uk
  77. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. Vase, painted earthenware, decorated by Mary Butterton, made by Doulton & Co., Burslem, ca. 1885. Museum no. record O150509, V&A Collections API v2.. api.vam.ac.uk
  78. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. 'Flambe ware' bottle, made by Doulton & Co, Burslem, 1918. Museum no. record O150368, V&A Collections API v2.. api.vam.ac.uk
  79. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. Vase, 'Persian ware', Royal Doulton, Burslem, about 1920-22. Museum no. record O1459964, V&A Collections API v2.. api.vam.ac.uk
  80. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "T Mayer (Thomas Mayer)." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  81. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "T J & J Mayer." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  82. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Mayer Bros & Elliot." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  83. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. Plate, transfer-printed in underglaze black, made at the factory of T. Mayer, Stoke-on-Trent, ca. 1826-1835. Museum no. record O149301, V&A Collections API v2.. api.vam.ac.uk
  84. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. Pot lid, Crystal Palace, made by T.J. & J. Mayer for Crosse & Blackwell. Museum no. record O78093, V&A Collections API v2.. api.vam.ac.uk
  85. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Podmore, Walker & Co." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  86. SecondaryGrace's Guide to British Industrial History. "Wedgwood and Co." gracesguide.co.uk, n.d.. gracesguide.co.uk
  87. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Joseph Clementson." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  88. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Clementson Bros." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  89. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. Vase, transfer-printed in underglaze blue, made at the factory of Joseph Clementson, Hanley, ca. 1839-1864. Museum no. record O149248, V&A Collections API v2.. api.vam.ac.uk
  90. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Burgess & Leigh." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  91. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Burgess, Leigh & Co." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  92. SecondaryGrace's Guide to British Industrial History. "Burgess and Leigh." gracesguide.co.uk, n.d.. gracesguide.co.uk
  93. PrimaryBurleigh Pottery. "Our History: Burgess and Leigh Pottery." burleigh.co.uk (redirects to burleigh1851.com), n.d. Self-published company history.. burleigh.co.uk
  94. PrimaryHistoric England. List entry 1297939, Middleport Pottery (Burgess & Leigh), Port Street, Middleport, Grade II*, listed 20 August 1979. Text as mirrored by British Listed Buildings (historicengland.org.uk returned 403 to our fetcher).. britishlistedbuildings.co.uk
  95. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Myott, Son & Co (Ltd)." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  96. SecondaryGrace's Guide to British Industrial History. "Myott, Son and Co." gracesguide.co.uk, n.d.. gracesguide.co.uk
  97. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Ridgway Potteries Ltd." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  98. SecondaryGrace's Guide to British Industrial History. "Ridgway Potteries." gracesguide.co.uk, n.d.. gracesguide.co.uk
  99. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. Platter, 'Homemaker', made by Ridgway Potteries Ltd., 1955-1968. Museum no. record O22723, V&A Collections API v2.. api.vam.ac.uk
  100. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. 'Homemaker' tableware tureen and cover, made by Ridgway Potteries Ltd., 1957-68. Museum no. record O85229, V&A Collections API v2.. api.vam.ac.uk
  101. SecondarySpode Museum Trust. "The First Spode Period 1776-1833." Timeline of Spode, spodemuseumtrust.org.. spodemuseumtrust.org
  102. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Josiah Spode, 1767-1833 (updated 1 Oct 2025)".. thepotteries.org
  103. SecondaryBirks, Steve. thepotteries.org (Stoke-on-Trent potters directory / North Staffordshire Pottery Marks), "Josiah Spode – Ceramic Trade Marks".. thepotteries.org
  104. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "A Meakin (Ltd) / Alfred Meakin (Tunstall) Ltd." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  105. SecondaryGrace's Guide to British Industrial History. "Alfred Meakin." gracesguide.co.uk, n.d.. gracesguide.co.uk
  106. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. Tea plate, glazed earthenware, made by Alfred Meakin Pottery, ca. 1960. Museum no. record O173027, V&A Collections API v2.. api.vam.ac.uk
  107. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "W H Grindley & Co (Ltd)." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  108. SecondaryGrace's Guide to British Industrial History. "W. H. Grindley and Co." gracesguide.co.uk, n.d.. gracesguide.co.uk
  109. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "Booths Ltd." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  110. SecondaryGrace's Guide to British Industrial History. "Booths." gracesguide.co.uk, n.d.. gracesguide.co.uk
  111. SecondaryVictoria and Albert Museum. Bowl, made by Booths Ltd., Tunstall, 1922. Museum no. record O169303, V&A Collections API v2.. api.vam.ac.uk
  112. SecondaryBirks, Steve. "T Elsmore & Son." thepotteries.org (Staffordshire pottery manufacturers index), n.d. (page history as shown on page).. thepotteries.org
  113. SecondaryKovels. Wedgwood Date-Letter (identification guide; full article members-only, opening paragraph public).. kovels.com
  114. SecondaryBurton, William, and R.L. Hobson. Handbook of Marks on Pottery & Porcelain. London: Macmillan, 1909 (archive.org OCR; table columns interleaved).. archive.org
  115. SecondaryAntique HQ. Royal Doulton Markings – Back Stamps and Trademarks.. antique-hq.com
  116. SecondaryLoveToKnow. Royal Doulton Marks for Dating & Authentication.. lovetoknow.com
  117. SecondaryRhead, G. Woolliscroft. British Pottery Marks. London: Scott, Greenwood & Son, 1910 (archive.org OCR), Minton entry.. archive.org
  118. SecondaryLitchfield, Frederick. Pottery and Porcelain: A Guide to Collectors. London, 1912 ed. (archive.org OCR), Mintons entry.. archive.org

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