c. From 1947
R. H. & S. L. Plant / Royal Tuscan
Three upper wording lines introduce FINE ENGLISH BONE CHINA above the crowned wings.
Identification guide
Wedgwood date codes
Among Wedgwood date codes, later series alter the first character, including a 3 from 1907 and 4 in the series beginning in 1924.
Month, maker and year positions
In the three-letter arrangement the first character represents a month, the middle identifies the potter and the last identifies the year. The year sequence repeats. TOT can represent June 1865 or June 1891, so the other wording and cycle matter.
Worked code comparisons
| Code feature | Reading |
|---|---|
| TOT, earlier cycle | June 1865 |
| TOT, next cycle | June 1891 |
| 30 as later year code | 1930 |
What to check next
Later series alter the first character, including a 3 from 1907 and 4 in the series beginning in 1924. From 1929 the year can appear as its final two digits. Keep WEDGWOOD and ENGLAND wording with the code when separating cycles.
Related marks
62 marks
c. 1815–1830
Mason family ironstone business
Widely spaced maker’s name over a crown and scroll; no England or colour guarantee below.
Undated
Burslem
dark blue · earthenware and porcelain · England, United Kingdom
Known under the name of Wedgwood, the famous English ceramist. Dark-blue mark.
Wedgwood.Mark wording
Undated
William Smith
impressed, incised · brown · Stockton-on-Tees
W. S. & CO STAFFORD POTTERY W. S. & CO's WEDGWOOD W. S. & CO's WEDGEWOOD W. S. & CO's QUEEN'S WARE STOCKTON W. S. & CO WEDGEWOOD WARE W Smith & Co VEDGEWOOD VEDGWOOD* * The following comment appears in Godden's encyclopedia of marks concerning this mark - "This impressed mark occurs on an English earthenware plate in the Godden Collection... it was probably made at one of the many Yorkshire potteries, the mark being intended to look like that of Wedgwood but different enough to escape legal action." Godden continues..... "Since writing the above note... I have discovered two plates with this mark in the Victoria and Albert Museum. One of these is similar, both in style of decoration and in form, to a plate in my own collection which bears the impressed mark W S & CO'S WEDGEWOOD This mark was used by William Smith & Co. of the Stafford Pottery, , Yorkshire, and it would therefore seem that this VEDGWOOD mark was used by this firm, who sought to pass off their wares as true In this case they were successful, for the two plates in the Victoria and Albert Museum were officially described as made by the Staffordshire firm!" The following is an extract from the 1865 book "The life of Josiah Wedgwood" by L. Jewitt:- Injunction against Messrs. Smith and Co. "And now, while speaking of marks, a few words may opportunely be introduced on a matter which is somewhat puzzling to collectors, and about which they will doubtless be glad to receive enlightenment. It is this: in many collections pieces of one kind or other will be found bearing the mark WEDGWOOD & Co., and others with the mark of WEDGEWOOD, sometimes impressed, and sometimes in colour. The latter, it will be observed, has a central E, which the real name of Wedgwood does not possess. These I have heard variously appropriated by collectors to Wedgwood and Bentley, to Wedgwood and Byerley, and to a dozen other supposed periods and people. I am enabled to state that these pieces, many of them highly creditable and excellent productions, were not made by the Etruria Wedgwoods at all, but that the latter (the "Wedgewood," and sometimes the "Wedg-wood ") were the manufacture of Messrs. William Smith, and others, of Stockton, against whom Messrs. Wedgwood applied for and obtained an injunction restraining them from using the name of "Wedgwood, or " Wedgewood." The following official notification will well explain this matter, and prove of considerable interest to collectors: – "Vice-Chancellor of England's Court, "Lincoln's Inn, 8th August, 1848. IN CHANCERY. "Wedgwood and others against Smith and others. "Mr. BETHELL on behalf of the Plaintiffs, Francis Wedgwood and Robert Brown (who carry on the business of Potters, at Etruria, in the Staffordshire Potteries, under the Firm of 'Josiah Wedgwood and Sons'), moved for an Injunction against the defendants, William Smith, John Walley, George Skinner, and Henry Cowap (who also carry on the business of Potters, at Stockton, in the County of Durham, under the Firm of 'William Smith and Company'), to restrain them and every of them, their Agents, Workmen, or Servants, from stamping, or engraving, or marking, or in any way putting or placing on the ware manufactured by them, the Defendants, the name ' Wedgwood ' or ' Wedgewood,' and, from in any manner imitating or counterfeiting such name on the Ware manufactured by the Defendants since the month of December, 1846, or hereafter to be manufactured by the Defendants, with the name 'Wedgwood' or 'Wedgewood' stamped, engraved, or otherwise marked or placed thereon. Mr. Bethell stated that the trade mark ' ' had been used by the family of the Wedgwoods for centuries; he would not, however, go further into the matter at present, because Mr. Parker appeared for the Defendants; and it might become necessary – with whom, and himself, it had been arranged by consent on Mr. Parker's application on behalf of the Defendants, for time to answer the Plaintiffs' Affidavits – that the Motion should stand over until the Second Seal in Michaelmas Term next; and that in the meantime the Defendants should be restrained as above stated.; except that for the words, 'since the month of December, 1846,' the words, 'since the month of July, 1847,' should be substituted. Mr. J. Parker said he appeared for the Defendants, and consented without prejudice; and on his application for time to answer the Plaintiffs' Affidavits, the Court made an order accordingly. "On the 9th day of November, being the Second Seal in Michaelmas term, 1848, Mr. E. Younge, as counsel for the above-named Plaintiffs, moved for, and obtained, a perpetual Injunction against the Defendants in the terms of Mr. Bethell's Motion, substituting for the words, ' since the month of December, 1846,' the words, 'since the month of July, 1847," the Defendants consenting to pay to the Plaintiffs their costs. "Solicitor for the Plaintiffs, SAMUEL KING Furnival's Inn, Middlesex."
J&GMark wording
Undated
J & G Meakin
Hanley, England
Trade names listed in the 1951,56 & 1960 Pottery Gazette Reference Books are: 'Celeste' ware, 'Rosa' ware, 'Sol' ware, 'Sunflower' ware, 'Sunshine' ware, 'Vitresol' hotel ware. 1965 Traded under "Bull in a China Shop" by Meakin 1980 "Bull in a China Shop" used as a brand name for Wedgwood group Creative Tableware Division inc. Johnson Brothers, Meakin, Midwinter, Unicorn and Franciscan. J & G MEAKIN SOL VITRESOL STUDIO WARE IRONSTONE CHINA ROYAL STAFFORDSHIRE ENGLISH STAFFORDSHIRE
Undated
Jarmouth
red · faience · England, United Kingdom
The source describes a red Absolon name tag and an imitation of Wedgwood.
Undated
Street Batignolles Paris
red · faience · Paris
L. Lesocre name tag. Imitation of English Wedgwood . Red mark.
c. From 1936
R. H. & S. L. Plant / Royal Tuscan
Adds PLANT above TUSCAN CHINA and the winged crown; country wording is MADE IN ENGLAND.
c. From 1907
R. H. & S. L. Plant / Royal Tuscan
Crown between wide wings, TUSCAN CHINA arched above, and ENGLAND alone below.
Undated
R. H. & S. L. Plant / Royal Tuscan
ROYAL TUSCAN arches above simplified outlined wings and crown; CHARADE is a separate pattern name.
Undated
R. H. & S. L. Plant / Royal Tuscan
Retains Tuscan with the winged crown while adding METALLISED and WEDGWOOD GROUP; 72 is separate date information.
Undated
R H & S L Plant
The illustrated government-contract backstamp includes 1948 as the year of manufacture.
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