1897–1915
Royal Semi China James Kent England
printed · Stoke-on-Trent, England
Godden's Encyclopedia lists this printed mark as used click for the use of the Royal Arms
Pottery & porcelain
J Kent (James, Ltd) marks
Foley (Fenton / Longton), England, United Kingdom · 1897–2008 · 37 marks.
- Active years
- 1897–2008
- Country
- United Kingdom
- City / region
- Foley (Fenton / Longton), England
- Products
- china, earthenware, porcelain
- Marks
- 37
Dated marks & timeline
37 marks
c. From 1901
J K L
The mark is dated from about 1901; registration numbers date the design to 1899.
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Chrysanthemum is the pattern name.
1909
Mark image
Foley (Fenton / Longton), England
Source image is an agent-wanted advertisement from June , not a pottery mark.
c. 1910
J. KENT FENTON ENGLAND YE OLDE FOLEY WARE
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Also found with OLD FOLEY instead of OLDE and LONGTON instead of FENTON; LTD was added .
1910
Mark image
Foley (Fenton / Longton), England
Source image is a May trade announcement about George Johnson’s new showrooms, not a mark.
c. From 1913
FOLEY ROYAL J K L ENGLAND
Registration number 529477 dates the design to 1908; L or LTD was added around 1913.
Stoke-on-Trent, England
J K L denotes James Kent Limited.
c. From 1913
J K L Fenton England Made in England
LTD was sometimes added after 1913, but not consistently.
Stoke-on-Trent, England
NOTE: 'LTD' was sometimes added to marks , but not consistently
c. From 1913
J Kent Ltd Longton England Ye Old Foley Ware
LTD was sometimes added after 1913, but not consistently.
Stoke-on-Trent, England
NOTE: 'LTD' was sometimes added to marks , but not consistently
c. From 1936
James Kent Ltd Fenton Made in Great Britain "Du Barry"
Made in Great Britain appears from about 1936 and remained in use into the mid-to-late 1940s.
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Du Barry is the pattern name.
c. From 1950
James Kent Old Foley
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Solid- version from onward; later 1990s crowns are open. LTD or LONGTON may replace the standard wording.
c. From 1950
James Kent Old Foley
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Solid- version from onward; later 1990s crowns are open. LTD or LONGTON may replace the standard wording.
c. From 1955
ESTB 1686 Old Foley James Kent Ltd Staffordshire England
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Staffordshire was added in the mid-1950s. The meaning of ESTB 1686 is unknown; James Kent’s business began in 1897.
c. From 1955
Old Foley James Kent Ltd Staffordshire England "Du Barry" Made in England
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Du Barry is the pattern name. The source separately dates introduction of the globe and JK device to .
c. 1970–1979
HAND ENGRAVING Old Foley JAMES KENT Staffordshire ENGLAND DETERGENT PROOF
Stoke-on-Trent, England
From 1989
Fine Earthenware JAMES KENT Old Foley Est 1897 Staffordshire England
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Later open- mark following the purchase by M. R. Hadida.
c. 1997
100 Year Anniversary JAMES KENT Staffordshire Made in England DuBarry Limited edition
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Centenary mark; the source distinguishes open 1990s crowns from earlier solid crowns.
c. 1997
100 Year Anniversary JAMES KENT Staffordshire Made in England
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Centenary mark; the source distinguishes open 1990s crowns from earlier solid crowns.
c. 1999
OLD FOLEY James Kent Made in England
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Later open- version after the 1989 purchase by M. R. Hadida.
From 1999
OLD FOLEY JAMES KENT MADE IN ENGLAND
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Special elaborate decorator monograms were introduced in .
Marks 25–37
Undated
Mark image
Foley (Fenton / Longton), England
Source image is a 1917 trade-directory list rather than a mark. Moore Leason & Co occupied the Old Foley Pottery until 1896, before James Kent.
Undated
Mark image
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Dealer plaque for the later Collectors’ Chintz range. The 1990s reissues used original 1950s molds; Collectors Chintz, Limited Edition and 100 Year Anniversary inscriptions identify the later operation.
Undated
Fine Earthenware James Kent Old Foley Est 1897 Staffordshire England
Stoke-on-Trent, England
The caption’s general note that LTD was sometimes added after 1913 does not date this individual mark.
Undated
James Kent Ltd Fenton Made in Gt. Britain "Cydonia"
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Cydonia is the pattern name.
Undated
James Kent Ltd LONGTON Made in ENGLAND "Pompadour" Reg No 846345
Registration number 846345 records pattern registration in 1946.
Stoke-on-Trent, England
Pompadour is the pattern name.
Undated
Mark image
Foley (Fenton / Longton), England
1917 trade-directory illustration juxtaposes several marks. M. L. & Co denotes Moore Leason & Co, the preceding Old Foley occupant until 1896.
Undated
James Kent Old Foley Made in England
Stoke-on-Trent, England
The caption’s general note that LTD was sometimes added after 1913 does not date this individual mark.
Undated
James Kent Staffordshire Made in England
Stoke-on-Trent, England
The caption’s general note that LTD was sometimes added after 1913 does not date this individual mark.
Undated
Mark image
Foley (Fenton / Longton), England
Source image is an agent-wanted trade announcement from April 1912, not a mark. Announcements from 1909–1912 use both Longton and Fenton for Old Foley.
Undated
JAMES KENT LONGTON
printed, impressed · Stoke-on-Trent, England
Transferware shaving mug carries a cast-in Longton mark and a printed Fenton mark on the same object.
Undated
Old Foley James Kent Made in England
Stoke-on-Trent, England
The general note about LTD being added after 1913 does not establish this mark’s date.
Undated
Mark image
Foley (Fenton / Longton), England
Source image is a Fenton trade-directory list from 1907, not a pottery mark.
About J Kent (James, Ltd)
James Aloysius Kent founded the Old Foley Pottery business in 1897 with five workers from Barker & Kent. His sons joined the firm, which became a limited company in 1913. Philip Francis Kent succeeded him as chairman after his death in 1953. The company remained family-owned until 1981, then passed through Bayer, Morris Rushton and County Potteries. In 1989 M. R. Hadida bought the James Kent business.
The works were in Foley near the Fenton–Longton boundary, and both town names occur on marks.