Description
Vintage Carltonware small plate trinket holder
Carlton Ware was an iconic English pottery manufacturer, 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.
