Staffordshire China - David Chapman & Sons - Atlas Pottery Mark and Grimwades Winton

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Staffordshire China - David Chapman & Sons - Atlas Pottery Mark and Grimwades Winton

by Helen
(UK)

Goddens Shows Two Atlas Pottery Marks

Staffordshire China - David Chapman & Sons - Atlas Pottery Mark and Grimwades Winton:- A Contribution by Peter (admin) on the question of what happened to the 'Atlas' pottery mark after Chapman & Sons ceased trading.

The study of the Staffordshire china potteries is sometimes head spinning in complexity. None more so than the enigma surrounded in a mystery that is the fate of David Chapman & Sons and their Atlas pottery mark.

I normally can rely on my trusty Godden's as the arbiter of all knowledge on Staffordshire china. The first thing to say is that according to the hallowed text of Goddens there were two distinct Chapman Staffordshire china companies.

One is David Chapman & Sons of the Atlas Works, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire - founded 1889 and continued only until 1906. The other is Chapmans Longton Ltd of Albert Works, Longton which was established in 1916 and continues through to modern times with their 'Standard' pottery mark amongst others (see article here: Chapmans's Standard China Pottery marks).

Godden says D. Chapman & Son continued until 1906 when it's name was changed to Atlas China Co Ltd. Prior to that there was a shift of name in 1904 to "Chapman & Sons (Stoke-on-Trent) Ltd.

After 1906 Goddens says it has records of the Atlas pottery mark (man with globe on his back) being used until 1910 on tableware and then also on 'The Atlas Tile Works' of Vine Street, Hanley 1907-1920. There is no mention of the pottery mark being transferred to Grimwades / Winton.

In a separate entry it lists 'Atlas' as being a pottery mark associated with Grimwades / Winton. Here it starts to become slightly murky and smokey because when you cross reference the Grimwades / Winton entry, you see only one mark for 'Atlas' dating from 1934 to 1939 - and it is not the classic 'man with globe on his back'. The mark shown is a kind of art nouveau cursive circular script saying 'Atlas' on the top and 'bone china England' underneath.

However, I have seen for sale on ebay the 'man with globe on his back' pottery mark with 'Grimwades' substitutes for 'Chapmans' in the band across the globe. However, overall the mark looked like a bastardized version of the original Chapman's Atlas mark - not well drawn - almost as if a child had copied it. This does not seem to fit well with the rather beautifully drawn pottery marks of Grimwades / Winton of which there are 16 different examples shown in the Godden's listing.

It made me wonder if some bright spark was taking David Chapman & Sons wares and forging the mark to look like the highly collected Grimwades / Winton brand. If not, I would like to find out more about why, if the new badly drawn mark is genuinely Grimwades, it was drafted so poorly.

I also need to know when Grimwades / Winton took over the Atlas pottery mark as there is no mention at all of this transfer in Goddens.

If anyone can shed some light on this I WOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL.

Best regards,

Peter (admin)
www.figurinecollect.com (These pages show our new English made bone china figurine collection)
www.figurines-sculpture.com (This is my bigger site covering all aspects of fine china making)

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Comments for
Staffordshire China - David Chapman & Sons - Atlas Pottery Mark and Grimwades Winton

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Child's version of atlas CHINA
by: Christelle

Good day!

I recently bought just such a trio because it struck me as a quirky addition to a mismatched collection; a poorly rendered atlas mark with GRIMWADE (no S). The trio is quite artfully decorated with flying geese but it is most certainly hand painted and probably amateur.

As such I might warrant that the author's assertion that someone tried to copy it (though poorly) might be correct. I would say that much like limoges pieces could be bought and painted by hobbyists, other pottery might be done the same with and some mark made on the bottom (like my sewing a designer label into my home made dress).

More of Grimwades / Atlas
by: Peter (admin)

Interesting idea - the plot thickens, thanks for that.

Atlas China Grimwade - China identification and quest
by: Annie

I have 3 cups, 6 saucers, a cake plate of Atlas China, Grimwade, a man carrying an atlas on his shoulders, with K 6932 handwritten in beige. The design is a pagoda in the middle, and blue and purple flowers with a chinese reed criss-cross in rusty orange, decorating the lip inside and out. The cup is shallow with oriental handle. Very pretty!
Is it possible to find more of this china? Is it valuable, should we be using it?

Grimade Atlas original
by: Annie

The cups have the original quality Grimade Atlas, Stoke on Trent, England. There is no 'copyright' however at the bottom.

David Chapman and Sons
by: Mike

I am an avid collector of David Chapman and sons Ltd China which dates from 1889-1906 but find it hard to find online. Whenever I see it I snap it up because it is genuinely beautiful and distinctive china. Some of it resemble the Wileman style a brand I also collect.
I also got caught up in the confusion surrounding this when I was selling some Royal Standard China online and linked it back to the David Chapman brand. I was corrected and the advice you have given was correct for this now I recall. As for faked marks to make porcelain look like Grimwafes I can shed no light on this.
What I wish is that more people would offer David Chapman and sons ltd china on sale

ATLAS / GRIMWADES
by: christinegozzard@btinternet.com

Ihave just purchased two plates with the ATLAS/GRIMWADES STAMP ( globe on man )the transfer pattern seems to be a bit of a hit miss and maybe because it is not at all flowing it appears to have been cut to fit the plate,
is it the real deal anyone any idea's

Grimwade's Winton Stoke on Trent rose and daisy jardiniere
by: Mardi Saker

I was wondering if you would be able to comment on how old this jardiniere would be. It belonged to my grandmother and grandfather. I am guessing that it may have been a farewell gift from their family when they left Birmingham to emigrate to Australia in 1921

Chapman
by: Deirdre

I have several plates, cups and saucers of the Chapman china with the man holding the globe on his bach and the name Chapman written in the globe. I have searched the internet to find more originals but no luck so far.
I have no idea how old this china is. It came from my great-grandmother.
I would like to know some more.
Greetings
Deirdre

atlas pottery
by: Anonymous

i have a set in a green fleur de lys pattern for 12 places, though I cup may be missing, with that atlas china 4030 stoke on trent mark on it. it was passed down thru my grandmother. I was trying to find out something about it.

Chapman Plate
by: jillgray.williams@btinternet.com

I was delighted to find your website because I have been looking for some information about a plate I am about to put up for auction on Ebay.

The mark on the plate is the man with a globe on his back with a banner going accross with the name CHAPMAN. Above the globe is Rd 371477. Under the globe: Made in England and just next to this on the right hand side is the letter D. Close to the edge of the plate is an indented mark with what looks like too tiny indented ears?

The pattern on the plate is possibly clematis in lovely shades of purple with green leaves. The background around the edge is lilac and the centre of the plate is a creamy colour. It has a very worn gilt edge. Any ideas how old this plate is - any information would be helpful?

Staffordshire China - David Chapman & Sons - Atlas Pottery Mark Dating Query
by: Peter (admin)

Hi

Here are some observations from me:-

Before 1904 the Atlas mark may or may not have "Longton" beneath.

After 1906 the is no Longton and the standard mark was more likely to be just "Chapmans"

After 1910 the Atlas mark may not have been used so much by Chapmans, and by the 1930's they had apparently sold the brand off to Grimwades (Winton).

All this has to be tidied up and confirmed by and expert as these are just my personal observations. I have discussed the Grimwades Atlas mark in other parts of this site - please use the in-house search box to find.

Peter (admin)

Chapman Flow Blue Atlas mark
by: Colleen

I recently purchased a beautiful desert set of flow blue that has the David Chapman mark. It is a perfect set and very finely decorated. I can't find any valuation but would love to sell it.
coco@bacavalley.com

Atlas China/Grimwade
by: Maureen

I have a complete tea set labelled 'Atlas China, Stoke on Trent' with the globe and Atlas, and a band across the globe saying 'Grimwade' (no 's')'England' at the bottom, and 'copyright'. The globe does not have lines but is dark-coloured, except for a small patch not coloured at the top. The figure of Atlas looks a better rendition than in the example on your page.
The pattern is a band of pink tea roses with green leaves and white daisies on a black background. This band is edged with agold strip top and bottom. Some of the pieces have a green stamp which is unreadable, while some of the cups have a number printed in green.
Unfortunately,although the set is complete, several of the pieces have cracks or chips.
They were given to my grandparents as a wedding gift in 1919, but I don't know if they were bought new or were passed down the family.
I would love to hear from anyone who knows this pattern.

grimwade/j and r plant
by: Anonymous

hi i have numurouse plates and jugs in variouse sizes going to very large serving platters, also jugs with lids all with the stoke potteryand a crown on the bottom, approx 20 peices. any ideas please

Not sure if this is any help to anyone.
by: Anonymous

Not sure if this is any help to anyone.

This is an item I have and have listed on our New Zealand TradeMe web site just like Ebay

Have a look at below website

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=437603190&ed=true

Regards Richard
junkd@xtra.co.nz

D Chapman/Grimwades
by: Marj

Hi. For sale on the New Zealand site Trade Me is a trio with the Art Deco 'Atlas' mark. (Auction no.437603190). Godden (1991) says Grimwades c1934-39. It certainly looks to be 1930's vintage. It has a typical Royal Winton shape & pattern & 'trademark' flower bud handle. Godden (1991) does not include the 'Atlas' mark under David Chapman & Sons. I believe that the comments re the globe are a bit of a red herring, many manufacturers use the globe device. Chapman & Sons worked out of the Atlas Works, Atlas carried the world on his shoulders. End of story. The 'mystery' (if there is one) is why Grimwades (Royal Winton) chose the word Atlas for this mark. It endured for 5 years & I suggest that people now confused re the origins of their pieces should consider the style of them & do they relate to the Art Deco period. Happy New Year.

Grimwades acquisition of Atlas China
by: debscornucopia

Atlas China was purchased by the Grimwade Bros in late 1906. The Atlas China Wolfe St pottery produced Grimwades higher quality tea sets & continued to do so until WW2, when the factory was closed down & used for storage, until it was deemed unsafe.
The Art Deco Atlas China back stamp was used on Winton wares from 1906 until it closed. The Atlas Globe backstamp was redesigned to incorporate the Grimwades logo & was used until just after WW1.
The Art Deco back stamp is found on the better quality bone china wares (the reason Grimwades bought the Atlas works) & many of their popular patterns were also made as special sets in the Atlas works.
The Atlas China arm of Grimwades had their own shapes & patterns but there was a lot of cross over as they targeted the lucrative overseas markets.
The specific Trade Me listing is a Royal Winton pattern called Love Birds & would date between 1908-1922.

Deb
www.debscornucopia.com

Grimwades Chapman Atlas Pottery Mark Full Explanation
by: Peter (admin)

Dear Deb

Many thanks for taking the time to explain the details of what happened to this Atlas pottery mark.

This info is not detailed in my copy of Goddens (it is not the most recent edition), so therefore I was at a loss to explain exactly what had happened to the backstamp and potbank. Goddens does mention an Atlas mark in association with Grimwades, but makes no connection to Grimwades on either the Chapmans listing or the Grimwades one.

So now we know, thanks for the clarification.

I took the liberty of giving you a full follow link to your website, hope that's OK - it should be good for a bit of traffic, but most of all some nice link juice for you (my way of saying thanks).

I see your other speciality is Carltonware (I notice their factory still standing proud amongst the ruins of Stoke every time I drive through the town). I have been meaning to do a piece on them as I feel they have been sadly neglected on this site (my own fault, nobody else's).

I was wondering if you would care to write up some background on them and upload it here:-

Pottery marks forum upload form

Feel free to add a link to your website (I will make sure it is another 'full follow' which should help with your Google rank).

Anyhow, nice to talk, must dash, speak soon and good luck with the website.

Peter (admin)

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