Zululand Coins
## Stunning ## - Tuscan English China Trio - ## Collectible ##
This Forme's Part of a Huge Estate Lot that I will be selling off over the next few month's
History Of Tuscan Fine English China
Although the known history of R. H. and S. L. Plant Ltd. (makers of Tuscan China) extends only over the last ninety years or so, yet it is evident that ancestors of this potter family had been throwing pottery at Lane End (Longton) at least as early as the last half of the eighteenth century.
William Chaffers, pioneer writer on ceramics, in his Marks and Monograms of Pottery and Porcelain records the name of B. Plant, Lane End, as occurring on a jug in the form of a lioness; also a white glaze basket, made about 1780, in the possession of James Plant of Salford and a pair of lions inscribed 'Benjamin Plant, Lane End', in the possession of a Mr Hailstone.
To this evidence may be added two examples of the ware of this Benjamin, belonging to the present Managing Director of the firm. One is a quart stone-ware teapot, beautifully decorated with figures in relief, the other a spoon mould. The same gentleman has in his possession an old diary which belonged to the potter, inscribed 'Benjamin Plant – his book, 1775'.
Among the entries, some of them quaint, in this little volume there is one giving the average prices of meat at that time – veal 3d. a pound, lamb 6d. a pound, and pork 6½d. a pound. But more germane to our subject are several receipts for coloured bodies (including yellow and black) and for glazes (including one for a deep violet colour).
There is unfortunately no record of where the factory stood, but it must have been at Lane End and the present makers of Tuscan China are proud to claim this eighteenth-century potter as progenitor of a long line of the Plant family, with whom they have at least a sentimental link.
Originally the newly established firm was in occupation of Carlisle Works (now derelict) at Longton, but over fifty years ago a move was made to the present site. The factory was named the Tuscan Works and the partner proprietors were R. H. Plant and his brother.
