c. 1890–1893
W & R / STOKE-ON-TRENT; POPPY / R No 157102
Ribbon below bird; no circular crown device.
printed · ceramic · Stoke-on-Trent, England
Pottery & porcelain
Carlton Ware marks
Carlton Ware marks include lithographic transfer “Carlton Ware / MADE IN ENGLAND” on ceramic dated c. 1969–1989 in Stoke-on-Trent, England.
- Active years
- 1958–2014
- Country
- United Kingdom
- City / region
- Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
- Products
- china, earthenware, figurines, decorative earthenware, lustre ware, tableware, crested souvenir china, Walking Ware
- Marks
- 5
Original Carlton Works production 1890–1989. Trade name and assets subsequently changed hands and the brand was relaunched; 1989 is not the end of every object bearing Carlton Ware.
What to look for
- Compare the crown and the wording beneath it. Made in England separates the later crown format pictured here from the earlier crown.
- Read pattern and registration numbers separately from the maker’s stamp. The registration number dates a registered design, not necessarily the individual pot.
- Check the whole piece when a script mark is present: the format had a long life and has also been copied on later fakes.
Dated marks & timeline
5 marks
c. 1894–1926
W & R / STOKE ON TRENT / CARLTON WARE; Rd No 661633
Crown and circle without Made in England; the design registration number identifies the pattern.
printed · ceramic · Stoke-on-Trent, England
c. 1920–1926
W & R / STOKE ON TRENT / CARLTON WARE / MADE IN ENGLAND
Revised crown and added Made in England; introduction circa 1920 is estimated by the catalogue.
printed · ceramic · Stoke-on-Trent, England
c. 1926–1987
Carlton Ware / MADE IN ENGLAND / TRADE MARK
Script replaces crowned circular device; this example lacks the extra Handpainted line.
printed · ceramic · Stoke-on-Trent, England
c. 1969–1989
Carlton Ware / MADE IN ENGLAND
Heavy rounded type replaces flowing script; catalogue describes a slide-on lithographic transfer.
lithographic transfer · ceramic · Stoke-on-Trent, England
About Carlton Ware Ltd
Earthenware and China manufacturer originally at the Carlton Works , Stoke , Stoke-on-Trent . Remaining under the control of the Wiltshaw family 1958-67 In January 1958 Wiltshaw & Robinson Ltd changed their name to Carlton Ware Ltd. (Frederick) Cuthbert Wiltshaw had been the head of the business since 1918 when his father, James Frederick Wiltshaw, had died. A 1960 directory listed Cuthbert as Governing Director and W. G.
Purser served as managing director from around 1958 until 1966. Cuthbert Wiltshaw continue as owner and Governing Director until his death in 1966. In January 1967 a resolution was passed that the company be voluntarily wound up - all the creditors were paid in full.
Part of the Arthur Wood Group 1967-87 In 1967 the business was sold to Arthur Wood & Son (Longport) Ltd and it remained as Carlton Ware Ltd until December 1987. 1970s – As hand-decorated luxury wares become harder to sustain, Carlton Ware pivots toward modern shapes, advertising/promotional lines and collaborations such as Walking Ware (from 1974, with Roger Michell & Lustre Pottery) The 'unfortunate years' Dec 1987-1992 Carlton Ware Ltd remained in the Arthur Wood Group until December 1987 when it was sold to County Potteries PLC who, in the same year purchased the James Kent pottery.
Also known as: Carlton & Kent · Carlton Ware Direct Ltd Carlton World Wide Ltd (incorporated April 2008) · Carlton Ware Grosvenor Ceramic Hardware Ltd. · Carlton Ware Ltd From 1967-87 as part of the Arthur Wood Group From Dec 1987 as part of County Potteries · Wiltshaw and Robinson · W & R · Carlton Ware Limited · Carlton & Kent (later company name) · Wiltshaw & Robinson, later Carlton Ware Ltd
Look-alikes & how to tell them apart
Wilton Ware / A. G. Harley Jones
Related designer history and similar richly gilded ornamental pottery can cause confusion. Read Wilton versus Carlton and the maker’s initials.
Royal Worcester blush ware →
Early Wiltshaw & Robinson blush-ground decoration imitated a fashionable Worcester style. W & R and Stoke-on-Trent identify the Carlton maker.