Staffordshire is the umbrella name for over 1500 potteries that have produced ceramic ware for hundreds of years. The pottery has been so highly popular for so many years, that some of the early forgeries are almost a century old. Between forged marks, confusing marks, and non-existent marks, valuations of this type of pottery are best left to experts, and even they don’t always agree!
The name Staffordshire refers to a county in north central England that was and is the center of the British pottery industry beginning in the late 13th century and continuing to this day. In 1910, Stoke-on-Trent the major city in Staffordshire was formed through the incorporation of six villages-Hanley, Burslem, Longton, Stoke, Tunstall and Fenton.
Major potteries in operation in 21st century Staffordshire include The Wedgwood Group (Wm Johnson Brothers, Coalport, Mason’s Ironstone, and Meakin), The Royal Doulton Company (Royal Doulton, Beswick, Minton, and Royal Albert), Spode, Moorcroft, Portmeirion, and Johnson Tiles.
Staffordshire figurines became popular in the 19th century. The growing English middle class wanted less costly examples of the Derby and Chelsea porcelains that adorned the mantelpieces of the aristocracy, and hundreds of Staffordshire potteries were happy to comply. Staffordshire figurines were produced by the thousands by both companies and individual potters.
