Royal
Albert - Back
Stamps
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Printed or impressed marks with initials c.1896 - 1904 and was phased out around 1905. |
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The second backstamp incorporates for the first time the Royal Albert name, Printed Mark - 1905 - 1907 | |
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The third backstamp was introduced in 1907 - 1922 | |
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The firm became " & Sons" in 1917, possibly explaining the change to the Post WW1 mark first used around 1917, this had officially dropped the TCW connection, but these initials can still supposedly be found on wares made up to 1925. The brain-teaser about the Post WW1 mark shown is, the Registration number which dates this pattern to 1931 !. | |
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Patterns such as "Old English Roses" started about this time. | |
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The mark was again revampedin 1927. It is interesting to note the connection with Lawleys, a firm still in existence today, and operating in much the same manner offering exclusive patterns. | |
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Royal Albert also produced
a range of floral backstamps, examples of these are Old English Rose
and American Beauty Crown China stamp dates from 1927, The Bone China Stamp is from 1941 to 1998 |
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The firm
became incorporated as a Limited Company in 1933. |
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Although we can chart the general
progression of backstamps there are quite often subtle variations
to be noted. Printed Mark 1927 - 1935 |
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In 1935 the backstamp changed
again, 1935 backstamp, here all reference to the Crown China works
had ceased, and instead the Bone China theme was taken up. This may have also coincided with a change of premises to the St Mary's Works.The registration mark dates this pattern to 1945, this suggesting it took some time for the firm to attend to such matters. |
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The Post WW2 mark saw a change in the backstamp, once again with variations to the theme. |  |
| Backstamps can provide one indicator to age, pattern and registered numbers can also provide another. For instance pattern number 4534 was used in 1925 and 4788, was in use by around 1930. And a registered number can be traced to a year of registration in either of Geoffrey Goddens excellent reference books "Encyclopedia of British Porcelain Manufacturers" or "Encyclopedia of British Pottery & Porcelain Marks" under Registered Designs. | ||
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In the 1960's the Pearson Group acquired Royal Albert and added them to their portfolio of ceramics interests (Allied English Potteries) which at that time also included other brands like Paragon. | |
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In 1970, all connection to the founders T.C. Wild & Sons was dropped with the renaming the company as Royal Albert Limited. | |
In 1972,
the Pearson Group acquired Royal Doulton, which was then a listed
company, and merged it with Allied English Potteries. That merger
brought Royal Crown Derby, Royal Albert, Paragon and the Lawleys
chain of shops into Royal Doulton (which already owned the Royal
Doulton, Minton, John Beswick and Webb Corbett brands). |
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| Patterns such as "Old English Roses" ceased shortly after this, we are informed about 1977, but have seen nothing definite on this date. "Serena" is another pattern that enjoyed enormous success that ceased about this time. We also believe "American Beauty" has ceased production. | ||
In 1991,
Royal Doulton briefly dabbled with the Royal Albert name on their
hugely successful Beswick Beatrix Potter range of figurines (which
were made under license from Frederick Warne), but following adverse
collector reaction, quickly saw sense and changed back. |
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| The Royal Doulton Group was "demerged" from the Pearson Group of companies in 1993, and subsequently listed on the Stock Exchange (NB: Doulton was only earning a 5% return, whereas other companies in the Pearson Group were earning 10%). Looking back this was the "beginning of the end" for Royal Albert, Beswick and may indeed be for Royal Doulton itself. | ||
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| The Royal Albert name has always been associated with tablewares of the highest quality with patterns like "Old Country Roses" (designed by Harold Holdcroft in 1962), and the more recent very popular "Moonlight Rose" pattern. (Note: The yellow/orange colourway is called the Pacific Rose). | ||
| 20th December
2002, Royal Doulton ceased Royal Albert production in England and
moved manufacture to "their state-of-the-art factory" in
Indonesia. This move has not been well received by collectors and consumers alike who definitely see Royal Albert as English and enjoy owning Real English Fine Bone China, consequentially we are already seeing a preference for "Made in England" items. (NB: All the items on our site are Made in England.) |
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| Royal Albert has produced a myriad of patterns over its century of production, and will provide anyone collecting them a very appealing selection of quite fetching patterns to choose from, at, for the moment, a quite modest outlay. | ||
| References: With thanks to Ms Deborah Bates, Head of Legal Services at Royal Doulton for help with the company time-lines and other information | ||
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