From 1903/4 all Pilkington's vases were marked on the base.
Over 70 marks are known which denote year of potting,
the artist, year of decoration and sometimes who potted the
vase. A variety of paper labels were also affixed by the
factory.
Pilkington's Lancastrian Pottery Society can identify artists
and date vases using the key to these marks.
Between 1897 and 1900 experimental numbers
were used in a cleared area of glaze. They require
knowledge of the glazes and shapes to identify them. From 1900 to 1903 a letter 'P' in various forms was used. Between 1903/1904 the mark known as 'P and Bs' was used combining a transfer print and the impressed letter 'P' |
Between 1905 and 1913 the impressed P and B mark is used with a four figure shape number and the date in Roman Numerals. The shape number is usually, but not always, at the top This base is from the post 1905 period. . Not every piece has a shape number but all have a potting mark. An impressed 'v' (Tunnicliffe) or 'x'(Bray) denotes the thrower. |
|
From 1913 - 1923 the mark changed to 'Royal Lancastrian' with no Roman numeral. A shape number was used on most vases. |
|
From 1924 - 29 the mark split with no numeral. A shape number was used on most vases. From about this date the scratched initials 'ETR' denotes the potter Edward Terence Radford. |
|
From 1930 - 1938 'Made in England' was added. |
The pottery artists at Pilkington's each had their own
distinctive mark. The male artists also used a specific mark to
denote the year a vase was decorated. Whilst the tile artists
occasionally put a mark or signature to their work this was not
common. Some artists are much more scarce than others which
influences the value of an item.
The Society is able to identify most marks and the year of
production for members. A stylised presentation of artist's
marks is shown below.
Annie Burton |
Charles E Cundall |
Walter Crane |
Dorothy Dacre |
Gordon Forsyth |
Jessie Jones |
Richard Joyce |
Edmund Kent |
William SalterMycock |
Gwladys Rodgers |
The 'Hand Made in England' was not always used and @made in England' was more common. |
|
Mark of potter William Barnes |
|
Mark of potter John Brannan |
|
Mark of potter Eric Bridges |
Pottery production was moved to a site in Blackpool in the 1970s
for a short period. Usually a transfer printed mark is seen.
Rarely a scratch mark is seen usually relating to artists at
Poole pottery.
All images are © Pilkington's Lancastrian Pottery Society