Johnson Brothers China - A Potted Tableware History
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Manufacturer Profile: Johnson Brothers China Tableware:
Three grandsons of the reputable Meakin china dynasty (with the Johnson surname) bought a bankrupted tableware pot bank in 1882 and went out on their own. That was a brave move. Were the upstarts setting themselves up to fail, or would they rock the oldies with their dynamic success? To find out, read on below .....
The Meakin family, - see China Manufacturers under ‘M’) were long established Staffordshire tableware manufacturers of good repute. Meakins factory recorded history dates back at least to 1845 with James Meakin Snr setting up ownership of a Staffordshire works. Meakin subsequently went on to become associated in the 1960’s with Clarice Cliff ware when they merged with her Royal Staffordshire company (Wilkinsons) - see China Manufacturers under ‘R’.
‘Johnson Bros’ China, as the break-away grandsons became known, developed a durable earthenware dinnerware they called "White Granite". It was a lightweight, fine, and beautifully printed earthenware. Their reputation for quality but inexpensive dinnerware was only just beginning.
Johnson Brothers China Online Auction Value - Price guide
Use the above graphic resource as your starting point for valuing Johnson Brothers china collections. It is quick, clever and conveninent.
Building their tableware reputation further with the body they branded as "semi-porcelain" whiteware, Johnson bros had studiously invented a slip that had the delicate characteristics of fine china, but the durability of ironstone.
Johnson Brothers tableware continued to grow in popularity in the china dinnerware industry by expanding to the USA. One of the brothers, Robert, moved to the USA in 1896 to oversee the emerging mid-priced family tableware market.
Johnson Brothers china was becoming very popular in America being inexpensive and durable. Johnson Brothers china, like many English brands of china and pottery before them, were being imported, and widely distributed throughout the U.S. They had made it. Johnson Brothers Summer Chintz pattern is beloved by American families all over the country.
In the 1930’s the Grandsons’ Grandsons joined the business and the firm managed to stave off the effects of the Great Depression although the Second World War nearly halted production. Again they pulled through and various works in England, Canada, and Australia were purchased for decorating and firing.
In 1968 Johnson Brothers joined the Wedgwood Group along with Coalport, Adams, Midwinter, Crown Staffordshire, and Mason's. The company won the prestigious royal warrants of both Her Majesty the Queen and Her Majesty the Queen Mother in 1970.
The company still has the fourth generation of the Johnson family (Christopher) on the Main Board of the Wedgwood Company. Now that's what I call a dynasty of potters. What other china making family can beat that? A dynasty of potters going back at least to 1845, and possibly earlier as the families of Meakin, Ridgway and Johnson are all inter-related and their forebears were recorded to have been involved in pottery making from the earliest days of the industry.
Johnson Brothers earthenware is still manufactured in factories in England very near the original factory site and today they have an extensive and well marketed range. I particularly like the Old Britain Castles range - which is very a clever modern classic. The pink (see above photo) is a wonderful pattern. This ‘old pink’ collection is on my wish list. I do have Johnson Bros tableware, but so far it’s all been collected from charity shops and jumble sales. One day, one day – now, where are all those
China Replacements websites
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Here is a quick reference list of Johnson Brothers China Patterns
Johnson Bros have some wonderful names for their patterns. ‘Friendly Village’ is one classic name and the Old Britain Castles is another.
TOP TIP:-To get a graphic of any of the patterns listed below, just click on this link
Johnson Bros image gallery
(published by Replacements.com) and look for your pattern down the left hand side of the new page that opens.
