Pottery & porcelain
Glasgow Pottery marks are associated with porcelain and hotel and steamboat china from City of Trenton, United States.
Established 1863. The Moses business ended around 1905–1906 when Thomas Maddock’s Sons acquired the plant; the pottery site continued under its successor. The end year is approximate.
c. 1876
American eagle rather than the British lion and unicorn; the 1876 catalogue association applies to this white-granite example. Similar 1878 eagle is not counted as a second family.
printed · white granite earthenware; semi-porcelain for the wreath format · Trenton, New Jersey, United States
c. 1880
The explicit 1880 within the wreath distinguishes this dated semi-porcelain format from the undated circular and armorial stamps.
printed · white granite earthenware; semi-porcelain for the wreath format · Trenton, New Jersey, United States
c. 1882
The two rings and plain central M separate this mark from the larger interlaced monogram surrounded by GLASGOW IRONSTONE CHINA WARRANTED.
printed · white granite earthenware; semi-porcelain for the wreath format · Trenton, New Jersey, United States
c. 1884
Compare the large interlaced monogram and full IRONSTONE CHINA WARRANTED wording with the simpler 1882 M-in-circle stamp.
printed · white granite earthenware; semi-porcelain for the wreath format · Trenton, New Jersey, United States
c. 1893
Diamond outline and VITRIFIED TRENTON N.J. wording distinguish the 1893 illustrated format from circular and eagle marks.
printed · white granite earthenware; semi-porcelain for the wreath format · Trenton, New Jersey, United States
c. 1895–1904
The S for Sons distinguishes this inscription from J.M. & Co. Arms alone occur on many makers’ ironstone; read the initials below.
printed · white granite earthenware; semi-porcelain for the wreath format · Trenton, New Jersey, United States
Undated
Factory name and New Jersey address distinguish this from Scottish Glasgow wares. The catalogue calls it an early mark but supplies no first or last year.
printed · white granite earthenware; semi-porcelain for the wreath format · Trenton, New Jersey, United States
Undated
Explicit JOHN MOSES and G.P. link the mark to the Glasgow works. No numeric year is supplied for this ribbon design.
printed · white granite earthenware; semi-porcelain for the wreath format · Trenton, New Jersey, United States
John Moses established Glasgow Pottery in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1863. The works stood on Carroll Street near Perry Street and grew into a substantial producer of household and institutional ceramics. Its wares included white granite and cream-coloured earthenware, hotel and steamboat china, and table and toilet services. In the 1870 industrial census the business was recorded as John Moses & Company, using both powered and hand-operated equipment.
The pottery became known for commemorative cups and saucers supplied for Centennial tea parties in the years around the 1876 Philadelphia exhibition. John Hancock cups were among these souvenirs. The exhibition display included stone china, decorated ware and majolica. Printed marks ranged from the factory’s name and Trenton address to American eagles, wreaths, monograms and British-style heraldic devices.
By the publication of Barber’s marks catalogue in 1904, the firm traded as John Moses & Sons Company. It also supplied crockery to government institutions, including the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, and marked special orders for the military and retailers. Following Moses’s death in 1902, the business continued briefly before Thomas Maddock’s Sons acquired the plant around 1906. The former Glasgow works then became the successor company’s Moses plant.
Also known as: John Moses & Company; John Moses & Sons Company; John Moses & Co. Glasgow Pottery · Glasgow Pottery Company · John Moses & Co. · John Moses & Sons Co. · John Moses Glasgow Pottery · Glasgow Pottery, John Moses & Company; later John Moses & Sons Company
