Description
Vintage Carltonware purple plate
Carltonware is known for its innovative designs, vibrant colors, and ornamental ware that captured the Art Deco and mid-century aesthetic. Here’s a detailed overview:
🔶 History
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Founded: 1890 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.
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Original Name: Wiltshaw and Robinson.
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Brand Name Adopted: “Carlton Ware” began appearing on products in 1894.
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Peak Popularity: 1920s–1950s.
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Ceased Production: The original company closed in 1989, though the name was later revived for limited modern productions.
🎨 Design and Style
Carlton Ware is especially known for:
✅ Blended Oriental and Art Deco Themes
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Many pieces from the 1920s–30s show strong Orientalist influences, such as dragons, cherry blossoms, and pagodas.
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Lustre glazes and raised enamel designs added richness and texture.
✅ Novelty and Decorative Ware
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The company produced bright, quirky kitchenware and tableware, often in fruit, vegetable, or leaf shapes.
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Items like tomato teapots or lettuce-shaped dishes were typical.
✅ Embossed and Hand-painted Patterns
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Some of the most collectible designs include:
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Australian Design Series: stylized flowers and leaves with embossed textures.
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New Mikado: a chinoiserie-inspired pattern.
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Walking Ware: a later novelty line with anthropomorphic cups and teapots.
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🏷️ Backstamps and Identification
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Carlton Ware pieces are marked with various backstamps over the decades, which help identify their production period.
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Older items often bear the “Carlton Ware Made in England” stamp in script or block letters.
