Carlton China (Carlton Ware)

Carlton China (Carlton Ware)

Carlton Ware, a pottery manufacturer in Stoke-on-Trent, was renowned for its tableware featuring intricately decorated leaves, fruit, and ceramic toucans used as promotional items for Guinness. The company crafted hand-painted domestic pottery in opulent art deco styles during the 1920s and 1930s.

History: Established in 1890 by James Frederick Wiltshaw, William Herbert Robinson, and James Alcock Robinson, trading as Wiltshaw and Robinson. The trademark “Carlton Ware” emerged in 1894, and the factory became the Carlton Works. In 1911, Wiltshaw formed Wiltshaw and Robinson Limited after dissolving the partnership with the Robinsons. James Wiltshaw’s death in 1918 led to control passing to his son, Frederick Cuthbert Wiltshaw. The company expanded by acquiring Birks, Rawlins, and Co. in 1930.

In 1958, the company became Carlton Ware Limited. After Frederick Cuthbert Wiltshaw’s death in 1966, it was sold to Arthur Wood and Sons. Financial difficulties in the late 1980s led to receivership in 1989 and with an unsuccessful rescue attempt by Grosvenor Ceramic Hardware ceased production in 1992. In 1997, Francis Joseph revived the brand, manufacturing collector-focused novelty items.

Products: Specializing in decorative giftware, Carlton Ware focused on the domestic pottery market. Early works included decal and hand-painted tableware with floral patterns, inspired by Wedgwood and others. In the 1920s, new production methods applied decal and hand-painting to high-glaze substrates, featuring designs inspired by Tutankhamen’s tomb—a start to the art deco pottery movement. Popular designs included stylized dragons, birds, and Oriental-inspired patterns. Mottled, pale blue lustre-ware sold under the separate “Armand” brand. The iconic “Carlton Ware” trademark debuted in 1928. Carlton Ware introduced the first “Oven to Table” ware in 1929.

In the late 1930s, a series of boldly embossed floral and foliage patterns like foxglove and anemone continued into the 1960s, towards the end, progressively simplified to reduce hand-painting costs. The addition of automated kilns in the 1949 led to the “Royale” brand producing high-lustre tableware, continuing until the early 1970s.

By the 1970s, increased costs impacted Carlton Ware’s ability to produce elaborate hand-painted items. The focus shifted to modern shapes and patterns, concentrating on novelty items like “Walking Ware” by potter Roger Michell and advertising ware, especially for the liquor trade, until closure.

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