Now part of the Wedgwood group, William Adams founded the company in 1769 in Staffordshire, England.
The family, now famous for Adams Ironstone, were potters from the earliest day of the history of the Stoke potteries, going back to the 17th Century. They were said to rival Josiah Wedgwood for ceramic development and quality - known especially for Adams Ironstone but also made earthenwares, Parian, creamware, and Jasper wares.
Founded 1859 in Beleek, N. Ireland by John Caldwell Bloomfield. Bloomfield was the local landowner who owned the village of Belleek.
The history of this firm is unique. He was curious about the unusual luster of the finish that his tenants applied to the walls of their cottages. Rich in local clay, minerals and feldspar deposits, the peasants were just using the age old knowledge to weather-proof their homes against the Irish weather. This folk knowledge of ceramics was Belleek pottery in the raw.
He organized the community to begin to make Belleek pottery with the help of several key outsiders. Throughout its history, Belleek's survival was always a battle between the practical, inexpensive earthenware and the delicate, expensive china Belleek Parian ware.
The fine Beleek Parian baskets with delicate woven bases and flowing floral decorations are the Belleek classics for collectors. Their ware is said to be resistant to dust and cracks due to a secret glaze.
Founded in Berlin by Wilhelm Caspar Wegely in 1751 Germany. In 1763 the factory was bought by Frederick the Great and became K.P.M. (Royal Porcelain Manufactory). The history of Berlin KPM declined in the mid-19th century but revived again and is still in production today.
Berlin K.P.M. suffered a great deal during WW II - a tragic history indeed. Their current production concentrates on gift ware rather than figurines with a switch towards large vases and bowls. See also Dresden China history (below).
If you look back to the true history, the porcelain is named after the place (a bit like 'Derby' or 'Worcester'). The first Capodimonte was produced in Naples, Italy from 1759 to 1780 at the ‘Royal Naples Factory’. The new factory was set in a Royal Wood named Capodimonte (translates literally as "the head of the mount") from which the porcelain got its name. These original pieces are very rare and hard to find for collectors, mostly because they are housed in Museums.
As you might guess, there is a connection between Capodimonte and Meissen. King Charles of Naples married the granddaughter of Augustus II who, of course, founded Meissen.
The Neapolitan King inherited the throne of Spain becoming Charles III King of Spain (1759-1788). So he moved lock, stock, and porcelain factory to Spain.
His son created a new Royal Factory in Naples which was dispersed during various French invasions in the early 1800’s.
So what is genuine Capodimonte? After the disruption of the Napolionic wars a few local business men were charged with keeping the tradition of Capodimonte alive.
So there is no longer one recognizable factory, but a group porcelain factories.
This situation must create a headache for collectors because using the name ‘Capodimonte’ on a backstamp is easy – verifying its authenticity is not.
Not everything marked Capodimonte is created equally.
Right here is a tale of how difficult business is in general and how hard the Pottery business is in particular. If it was easy everyone would do it! Be sure to take your hat off to successful china companies still around today when you witness how not to do it, in the story of Cauldon Potteries.
Royal Cauldon has its roots way back with the Ridgway family and the ‘Cauldon’ works founded by Job Ridgway in 1802 (see Ridgway – antique bone china section). There were various different buy outs and partner firms too numerous to go into here.
Significantly, son John Ridgway was appointed potter to Her Majesty Queen Victoria and achieved numerous awards and commendations for quality. The important thing for me is I own a set of nice but ordinary earthenware dinner plates marked with Royal Cauldon est. 1652 – “Englands Oldest Pottery”. Being in the trade I was curious – so did some digging.
It turns out that the Bristol firm Pountney & Co. Ltd took over the name in 1962. Not satisfied with the Ridgway connections, they decided to plain lie. They had excavated and found pottery shards underneath their Bristol premises (unrelated to the Pountney Company) dating from c.1652 and decided to try to pull the wool over their customers’ eyes.
It didn’t work. The ‘creative’ back-stamp date only served to counteract the genuine historical associations of the Ridgway name and Pountney ceased trading in 1977, having served only to discredit a once great name.
Amongst the Cauldon works most famous patterns is 'chariot'.
Founded in Denby, Derbyshire, England 1809. The main factor in the birth of the company was the discovery of clay during the construction of a new road nearby. Denby's first products were salt-glaze stoneware bottles and jars. Denby still makes a wide range of tableware and cook ware. Many of the original hand methods (painting, glazing and turning) are still used.
When the term "Dresden" was used in the U.K. before the l940’s, it historically referred to the Meissen factory products.
Meissen was the first ever European manufacturer of Chinese type hard-past porcelain in in history - 1910 to be precise (see Meissen section below).
“Dresden China” nowadays is more of a general term understood to be a reference to Germanic porcelain of that region or style. Historically, the second ever European ‘Dresden’ style porcelain factory was not located nearby, but in Vienna, Austria. The Du Pacquier factory was founded by Claude Du Pacquier in 1718.
Numerous factories were eventually established throughout the German speaking world, supported by the many Princes who wanted the prestige of a porcelain factory – the new white gold.
Notable makers were Nymphenburg, Berlin (KPM), Höchst, Ludwigsburg, Ansbach. Fürstenberg, situated about 200 miles to the west of Dresden, near Brunswick, began production in 1747 and, second to Meissen, claim to have the oldest uninterrupted production in Germany (see below for more details).
Oldest of the true Dresden Makers is Volkstedt founded in 1762 (see below). Hutschenreuther based to the south in Bavaria near Selb, was founded in 1814 (see below). Rosenthal of Selb was founded in 1879 (see below). Of the original factories only three big makers survived - Meissen, Nymphenburg (see below) and Berlin (see above).
Franz was founded 2002 by Francis Chen with its HQ in San Francisco, USA and its design and research center in Taipei, Taiwan. Production is in Mainland China.
Chen studied German Literature at university and acquired the nickname Franz.
Franz became the name of his brainchild – an idea that had to happen – an innovative new porcelain collection for today's market using ancient dynastic principles.
Franz’s secret weapon in his quest is art consultant and designer Chao Sun - an expert in the techniques of the Chinese dynasties. Sun worked with the National Palace Museum for 10 years, and his designs have been acquired by both London's British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum.
Franz appears to be thriving at a time when many porcelain makers are going backwards. Just goes to show what vision combined with expertise can achieve.
The first Russian Porcelain maker, founded by Englishman Francis Gardner in 1765. They produced high quality wares and figures. It remained in the Gardner family until 1891, when it was purchased by Kusnetzoff. The factory is still in production today.
Gien is a quality china manufacturer that specializes in earthenware. Founded in 1821 by Thomas Hall who was an Englishman with a mission to introduce fine English earthenware techniques to France, the home of hard-paste porcelain.
Gien presented exceptional earthenware exhibitions pieces from 1855 to 1900. In the 20th Century, despite wars and other crisis, Gien is the no. 1 producer of quality earthenware in France, and one of the best selling brands worldwide. See also Limoges (below).
Gorham was founded in 1831 in California, USA by Jabez Gorham.
Initially, Gorham manufactured only eathenware. In 1970 Gorham purchased the Flintridge China Company and in Pasadena, California began to make fine china dinnerware.
Gorham also began producing their own china designs many of which were made to coordinate with their sterling silver patterns. In 1984, Gorham ceased manufacturing its own china and began importing it from Japan.
In the early 1990s, Lenox (see below) purchased Gorham and continues to make various Gorham China patterns today.
Beautiful figurines are one of the things the Hutschenreuther porcelain company are famous for. Founded in 1814 by Carolus Magnus Hutschenreuther in Hohenberg an der Eger, Bavaria, Germany.
Hutschenreuther acquired sculptors and skilled laborers then began working with the Selb Technical School of Porcelain. Selb is also the home of Rosenthal.
Today, Hutschenreuther is part of the Rosenthal Group, who, in turn have been acquired by the Wedgwood group.
Jackfield in Shrophire, not far from the site of the original Coalport works, was long known as a centre of the early pottery industry, and had developed its own distinctive style of pottery manufacture by the early 1700’s - black Jackfield glaze .
Not a factory but a type of pottery ‘Jackfield Black’. Jackfield ware would have competed against majolica for the Victorian table.
Porcelain has been made in Limoges, France since the mid 1800’s. Kaolin was discovered in c.1760, close to Limoges and gave rise to the industry. See the porcelain china section for more information.
The first porcelain factory in Limoges was in 1765. Within a few years, the Limoges porcelain became a branch of the royal manufacturer at Sevres producing porcelain blanks for final decoration at Sevres (for more information on Sevres see listed under "S" below).
Famous factories (now vintage Limoge)emerged including
Haviland
, Ahrenfeldt, Guerin, Pouyat, Elite, and others.
Bernardaud, Jean Louis Coquet, Gien, Raynaud and Philippe Deshoulieres are all high quality makers of today. Whilst English makers perfected fine bone china, the French and other Europeans concentrated on hard-paste or ‘real’ porcelain.
Porcelain is grayer in appearance, more prone to chipping and less translucent than fine bone china. For more information see the bone china ware page.
If you want a price guide to the value of a specific Limoge maker you can just conveniently click on one of the Limoges manufacturer auction links below (which will be specific to your area if you are in the US, UK, CA or Aus. Otherwise, you will get US Dollar prices).
Limoges Manufacturers Online Auction Value Price Guide Links
In 1953 three brothers Juan, José and Vicente Lladró made their first ceramic creations in their home in Almàssera (Valencia) Spain.
They had acquired a Moorish furnace and, while their day job was at a local crockery factory, at home they developed their artistic interests. With the use of their furnace they began to produce figurines influenced by Meissen, Sèvres and Capodimonte.
By 1958 they had given up the day job and moved to an old nearby warehouse. With much experimentation they developed innovative techniques such as the one-layer firing process which created their distinctive crystalline finish and pastel tones.
Like Franz (see above) a modern model of ingenuity, artistry and acumen. Top marks to the Lladro brothers - to thrive and succeed in a time period where so many other china manufacturers have failed.
Founded by James Meakin in 1807, Staffordshire, England, Meakins were predominantly earthenware manufacturers of domestic tableware. They were not luxury producers, but set their stall out to be utilitarian makers of strong durable products.
In the 19th century the firm was well-known for its white granite (undecorated ironstone) – a take on European, particularly French porcelain of the period.
Prior to 1945 they specialized in competitively priced export tablewares, particularly for the American market, and South America. A family off-shoot resulted in the formation of Johnson Brothers Johnson Brothers China.
By the 1950s about 80% of production was for export markets which by now also included Australia, New Zealand, the Far East and Scandinavia.
During the 20th century the firm was known for its "Sol" wares produced between 1912 and 1963 for both home and hotel use. To give an idea of the size of the firm, in the early 50’s around a million pieces of Sol were manufactured per week.
Post war expansion in the home market for domestic tableware resulted in a wide range of traditional and fashionable shapes and patterns being produced between the boom years of 1945-1975. For example, there was the Habitant Studio Ware in raspberry red, daffodil yellow, bottle green and grey.
Meakins merged with Midwinters in 1968. Midwinter, a now defunct name (see below) has subsequently become very collectible. Midwinter had bought A J Wilkinsons in the mid 60's - the firm often using the trade name 'Royal Staffordshire' and inexorably linked with Clarice Cliff - see listed under 'R' below. In 1970 Midwinter/Meakin were taken over by Wedgwood Group and corralled into their 'Creative Tableware' stable.
Meissen
See also 'Dresden' listing above under 'D'. The earliest deposits of the mineral required to make porcelain were discovered near Meissen, Germany during the 1600’s.
With the skill of alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger, Meissen won the race to emulate Chinese hard-paste or ‘real’ porcelain in 1910.
The artistry of Johann Kandler, employed at the factory from 1731, enabled Meissen to take advantage of their discovery.
Meissen still produce today, for example the stunning and original White Waves tableware.
It strikes me as a blessing, particularly considering the devastation wreaked on Dresden during WW11, that the originators of European Porcelain, and makers of stunning figurines like the figure of the girl shown opposite (made nearly 200 years ago), are still able to show such fine china to the world.
Midwinter is now a highly collectible pottery having closed in 1987 after an unsuccessful marriage with the Wedgwood Group.
They were committed to design innovation, something they kept to for more than 30 years. At one point they owned the rights to the Clarice Cliff name.
Midwinters had bought Clarice’s firm A. J. Wilkinson (Royal Staffordshire - see under 'R' below) in 1964. They then merged with 'Sol' makers J & G Meakin in 1968. In 1970 Midwinter was taken over by Wedgwood Group.
The 'Astral' pattern shown opposite seems to be influenced by American firm Franciscan 1950's 'Starburst' pattern. See Franciscan Pottery.
Founded in 1747, Nymphenburg moved from Munich, to a purpose-built factory in the grounds of the castle of Nymphenburg in 1761, where it is still in operation today.
Nymphenburg are associated with master sculptor F.A. Bustelli, whose distinctive series of figures at the end of the 18th century, command the highest prices.
Reproductions are still made today. Known by collectors particularly for their wild life and dog figures made in the 20thCentury. See also Dresden China (above).
Founded 1753 Florence, Italy by Marquis Carlo Ginori, Richard-Ginori are specialists in hard (feldspathic) porcelain - i.e. hard-paste not bone china.
The English Porcelain company Richard Ceramics Company founded in 1873, joined with the Ginori porcelain firm, in business since 1737 to form Richard-Ginori, the premier Italian manufacturer of porcelain today.
Famous Danish maker, established in 1775 under the patronage Queen Juliane Marie. It was one of the first factories outside of Germany to begin production of porcelain. "Blue Floral", one of the earliest Royal Copenhagen patterns, is still in production today. Most pieces are still painted by hand today.
Founded 1896 in Staffordshire, England by Arthur Shorter.
Clarice Cliff’s association with mass producer A. J. Wilkinson (often branded as Royal Staffordshire C.1910 until the 1930’s) meant that her wares were mainly earthenware. Clarice Cliff had married Colley Shorter, the son of the founder of A. J. Wilkinson in 1940, having worked for the firm for 24 years.
Recently (2006) I was commissioned to sculpt a fine bone china figurine which was made and produced with the Royal Staffordshire back-stamp (now owned by distinguished design firm Compton & Woodhouse). We plan to follow up with more Royal Staffordshire bone china wares.
The ‘Royal Staffordshire‘ trade name was also used in the 1960’s by J & G Meakin (a mass producer and exporter of everyday tableware - see above on this page under 'M'). The connection was that Meakins merged with Midwinters in 1968 who had, in turn, bought Wilkinsons four years earlier. In 1970 Midwinter/Meakin were taken over by Wedgwood Group, thus making the Claris Cliff brand and patterns their property.
(aka Foley Pottery and Wileman & Co). Shelley Potteries began as Wileman & Co in 1862. Joseph Ball Shelley partnered with the firm of Henry Wileman at the Foley China Works, Fenton, Staffordshire.
Over the years they worked with important designers including Mabel Lucie Atwell. Shelley continued in production until 1966. It is now part of the Doulton Group.
In the latter part of the 18th Centurey, prominence in European porcelain manufacture passed to the French in Sèvres. The originators of chinese style porcelain in Europe, Meissen of Saxony (now Germany) - see under "M" above and also "D" for Dresden above - were the first to emulate the Chinese secrets of hard-paste porcelain and dominated the style of European porcelain manufactured until the mid-1700’s. For further information see porcelain china section
By 1769 Sèvres had learned the secrets and had begun to make real chinese type hard-paste porcelain. They began to overtake Meissen due to the granting of a national monopoly by the King of France – an advantage which Meissen had never enjoyed in Germany.
The town of Sevres is a town to the South West of Paris and was used as the decorating center for porcelain blanks which were manufactured in the town of Limoges 200 miles to the south (the source of the all important "missing link" raw material known as kaolin, china clay or feldspar - a hydrous aluminium silicate, Al4Si4O10(OH)8).
Volkstedt, founded in 1762, is the oldest of the Dresden factories and makes a large range of traditional figures. More recently it has been involved in the reissuing of the works created by artists at the beginning of the 20th century in plain white porcelain.
The Volkstedt ‘Swarzburger Werkstatten’ group was a collective of sculptors who started working together in l908. About 120 artists were involved in this studio over the next thirty years, many of whom went on to work for Meissen, Berlin K.P.M. and Hutschenreuther.
Franz was founded 2002 by Francis Chen with its HQ in San Francisco, USA and its design and research center in Taipei, Taiwan. Production is in Mainland China. 
Gien is a quality china manufacturer that specializes in earthenware. Founded in 1821 by Thomas Hall who was an Englishman with a mission to introduce fine English earthenware techniques to France, the home of hard-paste porcelain. 
Gorham was founded in 1831 in California, USA by Jabez Gorham. 
Jackfield in Shrophire, not far from the site of the original Coalport works, was long known as a centre of the early pottery industry, and had developed its own distinctive style of pottery manufacture by the early 1700’s - black Jackfield glaze . 
In 1953 three brothers Juan, José and Vicente Lladró made their first ceramic creations in their home in Almàssera (Valencia) Spain. 
Founded 1896 in Staffordshire, England by Arthur Shorter.
