If you're interested in antique bone china you need this guide. It's a complete A-Z Who’s Who with great talking points for 'quick connoisseurs'. Who made what? Who was genius behind it? When did they start? This is a waffle-free zone.
Founded 1894 Staffordshire, England by James W. Beswick.
Established initially in the 1890’s as maker of tableware as well as ornaments, Beswick were also on the bandwagon of making Staffordshire cats and dogs, most of which were unmarked and hard to tell from other Staffordshire makers of the period.
Not strictly speaking an antique bone china maker as they progressed to bone china only in the 1930's. Today’s collectors are very much tuned into Gilbert Beswick who broke new ground in the 1930’s with his high fired bone china figurines. His idea was to emulate the quality of Royal Doulton elegant antique bone china lady figures.
It was Lucy Beswick in 1947 who suggested using the illustrations of Beatrix Potter.
The family sold out to Royal Doulton in the 1960’s. Look out for the figure ‘Duchess with Flowers’ produced 1954-67 - a classic failure at the time, therefore now rare and sought after; £2,000 plus ($4000 + USD) would be the current value, not a bad investment for 5 shillings (25 cents). These items are future antique bone china items - so watch out for them.
Colclough Bone China has its own dedicated page. Royal Stanley is a backstamp of Colclough and also has a page to itself - see Royal Stanley
Copeland
See Spode (below)
Crown Staffordshire
Founded c.1790 Staffordshire, England by Thomas Green.
Accounts vary as to the exact date Crown Staffs was properly established. Thomas Green (senior) was employed at one of the Burleigh pottery factories in 1790, but records show he officially founded his "Churchill Works" in the autumn of 1795.
The company who only later in their history started calling themselves 'Crown Staffordshire', began full scale production of quality wares at the famous Minerva Works in Fenton, Staffs (the site where Crown Staffordshire operated from until the 1950s) in the early 1800's. According to their own backstamps, and the Minerva factory entrance plaque, the establishment date was 1801.
However, trading under the name ‘Green’ in various guises, Crown Staffordshire was first used by the company in 1897. Unlike the well documented connections of Royal Crown Derby, I can’t find any references to royal patronage that would authenticate the use of the ‘Crown’ trade name. If you have any information on this, please use the contact form.
Originally an earthenware manufacturer, the company produced bone china from 1933 onwards, at the specialist Minerva works in Fenton. So they are technically not antique bone china makers, but are important enough to be included here. In 1973 when the brand was bought out by the Wedgwood group, Greens were still based at the original Minerva works, employing over 200 decorators.
Wedgwood stopped using the Crown Staffordshire name in 1985, but still owns the brand. Jack Jones, sometimes described as one of the best ever designers of bone china table ware, worked for the company for 47 years. Today he is probably known best by collectors for the range of birds he sculpted - from large cockatoos to tiny wrens. In truth Jones added great value to the brand, giving them a higher status within the area of antique bone china collectibles. The fact that the brand is no longer manufactured, yet has a long history, adds value to the secondary market.
Founded 1793 Staffordshire, England by John Davenport.
John Davenport started his fine bone china production started around 1815, making him a key player in the area of antique bone china collectibles. Before that he produced pottery and tableware in earthenware from 1793.
The company stayed in the family for nearly 100 years before being taken over by Coalport in 1887. Davenport's most popular pattern number is "6" - the "Flying Bird" design - now very sought-after.
Delphine is a backstamp of Hudson & Middleton (see next listing below). It was the brand of the Middleton works. Delphine is also used by the Noritake company and also Royal Doulton have used the 'Delphine' name within their figurine collection.
Hudson & Middleton
Founded 1870 Staffordshire, England by William Hudson & J. H. Middleton.
For 19 years from 1870 Messrs Hudson and Middleton worked together. The company then split into two and operated separately for 52 years – Middleton making Delphine ware and Hudson making Sutherland China.
Hudson’s products were named after the Sutherland Works which today is a grade II listed building of historical importance to Longton in particular and Stoke-on-Trent in general.
Sometimes the ‘Royal’ tag is added to wares branded as ‘Royal Sutherland’ - from which particular regal connection I know not.
'Delphine' is also used as a backstamp pattern mark by Noritake, so don't confuse the two. You might also see Royal Doulton Lady figurines branded as 'Delphine'. There is no connection. Hudson & Middleton are one of the few older established firms not to have been swallowed up by the Wedgwood/Doulton group.
The company we know today was formed by descendants of the founders in 1941. Recently breaking into the lucrative Japanese ceramics market, Hudson & Middleton are known for bone china mugs and tea ware. They have had to compete with the likes of ‘new kids’ Dunoon Bone China as well as the big household names in antique bone china.
Founded 1854 Ohio, USA by Isaac Knowles. Based in East Liverpool, Ohio, widely known as "Crockery City," (the Stoke-on-Trent of America), Knowles, Taylor & Knowles was said to be one of the first firms to use natural gas as a fuel for the kilns in the 1880’s. In 1870 Isaac Knowles invented the "pull down" or "jigger" revolutionizing potting which until this time had been done entirely by hand.
His innovations didn’t stop there – they were one of the first ever firms to employ their own design team and decorators.
In the 1880’s they made a big decision to ‘take on’ the established English bone china firms. As a result, they produced what was subsequently acclaimed to be the best antique bone china ever produced in America.
Their Lotus Ware, in particular, went on to become multi award-winning. A big ‘look-at-us’ statement KT&K were sticking the finger up to their disparaging Euro-rivals.
Perhaps they invented the concept of the ‘lost leader’ too because Lotus Ware lost them big money, but did the trick and, in the long run, made the name of Knowles, Taylor & Knowles.
Ironically, it was with the help of two defecting Europeans, H. Schmidt and J. Poole that KT&K managed this upwards swing in prestige. Sadly the great depression saw the end of the company and it closed in 1931.
Founded 1796 Staffordshire, England by Miles Mason.
Famous for his oriental designs on both china and giftware, Miles Mason took out a patent for his Ironstone china in 1813. Although now known for Ironstone, initially he had been a bone china maker which is why he is included in this section.
With his durable ‘Ironstone’, he saw the opportunity to develop a strong and decorative substitute for the fashionable and expensive large Chinese vases. Some of his vases were over 3 feet tall. They typically had lots of relief detail and were finished with 22 carat gold.
Mason seemed to be born lucky because as well as marrying an heiress, he had the talent to do great things with her money rather than fritter it away on excess – something that a lesser person might have done. First he was a successful importer of Chinese porcelain, then, when supply began to dry up he decided to make it for himself – very successfully.
This famous and auspicious antique bone china brand is now owned by the Wedgwood group. I entered the history of this company in my own small way when, in year 2000, I was commissioned by Wedgwood to sculpt a commemorative fine bone china oriental figurine decorated in the traditional mazzarine blue and gold. The privilege was mine.
Founded 1745 Yorkshire, England by Joseph Flint in 1745.
Based in Swinton, South Yorkshire, England, Rockingham is a rare maker in this part of England. Sometimes a product can be too good. Such is the fate of Rockingham.
It didn’t survive. There were no hard headed dragons to pull the perfectionists away from the abyss of self indulgence – only the old gold of the 4th Earl Fitzwilliam to bankroll them. No expense was spared, no gorgeousness left un-encrusted.
Ceasing production in 1842, the rarity and quality of Rockingham ware makes it attractive to collectors. The only criticism leveled is the lack of imagination on the design of the shapes. The bone china production began in around 1825. The clay body was of the best quality, very dense and creamy white in colour.
Highly decorated dessert services with still life subjects and landscapes became Rockingham specialties – all marked with the characteristic Griffin crest.
Today true Rockingham is rare and near impossible to find, for example, in an online auction. When I looked recently the price of just a creamer and sugar bowl with wear and tear was $110. Don't confuse true antique Rockingham with 'tribute' Rockingham patterns which other companies have brought out in the past - for example, Paragon have a famous pattern called 'Rockingham' as do Spode.
To check to see if there is anything online right now, just click here:
Founded c1745 Derby, England by Andrew Planche, William Duesbury and John Heath.
Planche was a refugee from Saxony (home of Meissen). In association with William Duesbury and John Heath he began the Derby tradition. Duesbury went on to become the driving force, working with top artists of the day and acquiring the famous factory at Chelsea in 1770.
In 1784 the London works was demolished and much of the workforce and equipment was relocated to Derby. 1773 saw recognition by King George who granted use of the royal crown on the wares. Queen Victoria appointed the royal warrant ‘Porcelain Manufacturers to Her Majesty’ in 1890 and successive monarchs have renewed the patronage.
Their Imari pattern made in fine bone china has achieved world status. After much market consolidation in the 1960’s, Royal Crown Derby joined the Royal Doulton company. However, in 2000 a group of people led by Hugh Gibson bought back the brand with a view to re-establishing Royal Crown Derby as a flourishing independent maker once more. Their order books are full. Long may they reign!
Founded 1885 Staffordshire, England by Leonard L. Grimwade.
Winton has always been synonymous with quality and design - and ‘Chintz’. Leonard and his older brother Sidney (both potters) joined forces to form Grimwade Brothers. Leonard was the driving force behind many technical developments including Lithographic print transfers and the rotary kiln.
The new technology enabled them to develop their characteristic chintz patterns (tightly packed floral designs - 'Marguerite' was the first Chintz in 1928). In 1913 George V visited the potteries and bought a Winton Tea set.
Grimwades changed their name Royal Winton in 1929. Production stopped in the 1960’s making Winton very collectible. Under new ownership, the first new piece of Royal Winton Chintz for nearly forty years was introduced In March 1997 to great all round approval. The new owners also own ‘Duchess’ and ‘Royal Creamware’.
Founded 1761 in Staffordshire, England by Josiah Spode.
Watching his father buried in a paupers grave at the age of 6 must have had a lasting impression on the young J. Spode. Perhaps it was the driving force behind the formation of a company which not only survived but subsequently prospered to such an extent that his son Josiah Spode II was able to attain the crowning glory – the invention of fine bone china in c.1799.
Spode’s early pottery was called creamware - a delicate cream-colored earthenware. He then progressed to pearlware - a fine white-glazed earthenware often covered with a blue transfer print.
From the outset, Spode's work was was distinguished from other makers of the time in that it was regarded as flawless - porcelain that didn't craze, colors that didn't flake, and gilding that continued in its luster.
Spode was undoubtedly the ultimate 19th century porcelain factory in Stoke. In 1883 it became Copeland & Garrett.
The power behind the continued success of Spode was William Taylor Copeland (1797–1868). He had succeeded his father (also William Copeland) as business partner to the Spode Pottery. A human dynamo of a man; entrepreneur, Member of Parliament, philanthropist and Lord Mayor of London, in 1866 he was appointed china manufacturer to the Prince of Wales, heir the the throne.
He managed to buy out the interests of the Spode family and became the whole owner of the name of Spode China. Today Spode own the equally famous Royal Worcester porcelain company and together they form a group which is one of the only UK rivals to the mighty Wedgwood group in terms of fine china production.
Villeroy & Boch
Founded 1748 Audun-le-Tiche, France by Francois Boche.
Being a very old established European maker, Villeroy & Boch do not have the long history of fine bone china making that the English companies do. The specialty on the European continent was of course hard paste porcelain. However, like Rosenthal bone china has become an important part of Villeroy & Boch’s modern collections.
Like almost everything about this company their HQ is cool – being housed in a former Benedictine monastery (since 1809). A possible explanation of the ‘coolness’ is the fact that the 8th generation of the firm still run the business. You just have to look at the Audun Chasse range in the picture – it can be mixed and matched with any of the other Audun patterns.
Founded 1894 Staffordshire, England by James W. Beswick.
Founded c.1790 Staffordshire, England by Thomas Green.
Founded 1793 Staffordshire, England by John Davenport. 
Founded 1870 Staffordshire, England by William Hudson & J. H. Middleton.
Founded 1854 Ohio, USA by Isaac Knowles. Based in East Liverpool, Ohio, widely known as "Crockery City," (the Stoke-on-Trent of America), Knowles, Taylor & Knowles was said to be one of the first firms to use natural gas as a fuel for the kilns in the 1880’s. In 1870 Isaac Knowles invented the "pull down" or "jigger" revolutionizing potting which until this time had been done entirely by hand. 
Founded 1796 Staffordshire, England by Miles Mason.
Founded 1745 Yorkshire, England by Joseph Flint in 1745. 
Founded c1745 Derby, England by Andrew Planche, William Duesbury and John Heath. 
Founded 1885 Staffordshire, England by Leonard L. Grimwade.
Founded 1761 in Staffordshire, England by Josiah Spode.
Founded 1748 Audun-le-Tiche, France by Francois Boche.
