ROYAL ALBERT
FLOWER OF THE MONTH SERIES
LOVELY "Cosmos" PORCELAIN FLOWER POSY
HEIGHT = 6,1 CM ** WIDTH AT WIDEST = 6,9 CM
RARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION! No Damage!
History / Background
English Bone China, Period c1894-present day, Manufactured in T.C. Wild & Sons Limited, Crown China Works, High Street, (later St Mary’s Works) Longton, Staffordshire, England. Royal Albert was the trading name of the firm founded by Thomas Clark Wild, founded about 1894. The firm has always been known for its fine quality bone china, the first backstamp used their initials and was phased out around 1905. The second backstamp incorporates for the first time the Royal Albert name, the third backstamp was introduced in 1907. The firm became " & Sons" in 1917, possibly explaining the change to the Post WWI mark first used around 1917, this had officially dropped the TCW connection, but these initials can still supposedly be found on wares made up to 1925. Patterns such as "Old English Roses" started about this time. The brain-teaser about the Post WW1 mark shown is, the Registration number which dates this pattern to 1931. The mark was again revamped in 1927. It is interesting to note the connection with Lawley's, a firm still in existence today, and operating in much the same manner offering exclusive patterns. Royal Albert also produced a range of floral backstamps, examples of these are Old English Roses and American Beauty. The firm became incorporated as a Limited Company in 1933. Although we can chart the general progression of backstamps there are quite often subtle variations to be noted. In 1935 the backstamp changed again, 1935 backstamp, here all reference to the Crown China works had ceased, and instead the Bone China theme was taken up. This may have also coincided with a change of premises to the St Mary's Works. The registration mark dates this pattern to 1945, this suggesting it took some time for the firm to attend to such matters. The Post WWII mark saw a change in the backstamp, once again with variations to the theme. Backstamps can provide one indicator to age, pattern and registered numbers can also provide another. In the 1960's the Pearson Group acquired Royal Albert and added them to their portfolio of ceramics interests (Allied English Potteries) which at that time also included other brands like Paragon. In 1970, all connection to the founders T.C. Wild & Sons was dropped with the renaming the company as Royal Albert Limited. In 1972, the Pearson Group acquired Royal Doulton, which was then a listed company, and merged it with Allied English Potteries. That merger brought Royal Crown Derby, Royal Albert, Paragon and the Lawleys chain of shops into Royal Doulton (which already owned the Royal Doulton, Minton, John Beswick and Webb Corbett brands). In 1991, Royal Doulton briefly dabbled with the Royal Albert name on their hugely successful Beswick Beatrix Potter range of figurines (which were made under license from Frederick Warne), but following adverse collector reaction, quickly saw sense and changed back. The Royal Doulton Group was "demerged" from the Pearson Group of companies in 1993, and subsequently listed on the Stock Exchange. Looking back this was the "beginning of the end" for Royal Albert, Beswick and may indeed be for Royal Doulton itself. The Royal Albert name has always been associated with tablewares of the highest quality with patterns like "Old Country Roses" (designed by Harold Holdcroft in 1962), and the more recent very popular "Moonlight Rose" pattern. 20th December 2002, Royal Doulton ceased Royal Albert production in England and moved manufacture to "their state-of-the-art factory" in Indonesia. This move has not been well received by collectors and consumers alike who definitely see Royal Albert as English and enjoy owning Real English Fine Bone China, consequentially we are already seeing a preference for "Made in England" items.
