Alfred Meakin (Tunstall) Ltd., Royal Albert and Newfield Potteries, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. Est. 1873. Makers of earthenware.

For more Alfred Meakin patterns, click here

Seaside

This range had beautiful illustrated backstamps and well-designed, colourful patterns including Fisherman's Cove (fishermen walking on the sea-front) , Sea Breezes (showing fishermen at sea), Polperro (the fishing village in Cornwall), Regatta (with yachts), Brixham (fishing port in Devon), Clovelly (an ancient fishing village in Devon) and St. Ives (Cornwall). Nice (in Southern France) has a man in a black and red striped shirt sitting under a brown-and-yellow striped parasol at a caf? table). There are also the stylistically-related fruit seller and tea-picker patterns. These pieces were popular, and appear reasonably frequently on the market. They are now rather collectable. I am not sure of the date, but some had gold trims, and the style suggests 1940s - early 1950s. Please email if you know!

Polperro trio
One of several Meakin seaside and fisherman patterns. Mint condition. Value: £15-25

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Cactus pattern

A really nice Meakin pattern. The rim is gilded, so it may be 1930s, 40s or early 50s. Watch out for wear to the gilding when buying.

Dinner plate
Mint condition with no wear to the gilding. A spot of grit under the glaze on the front. Value: £2-5

Poodles

Poodles is my name for this range: the backstamp does not give a name. For other French and kitsch ceramic illustrations in the 1950's, click the "more..." link to the right:

Cup and saucer
With a crudely-done, transfer pattern of poodles in black. These pieces were mass produced in rather low quality, and this one has an underglaze chip on the rim of the saucer. Also seen with bright red hollow-ware. Common. Click here for a higher resolution image of the pattern. Value: £10-15 (if mint)

Montmartre

Dinner plate
WIth gilding to rim. No damage or crazing except some wear to the gilding and cutlery marks. Fairly frequent. Value: £5-10

NB: There is an almost identical Meakin pattern called Down by the Seine, which differs in having wooden boards for the cafe terrace, and arched door in the cafe, and a bridge in the background, behind the lady.

London Town series

Sometimes seen with the 'London Town' pictorial backstamp of an old woman selling flowers. Others in the series were Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square.

Picadilly Circus, Eros, Dinner plate
Marked on the front "EROS, PICADILLY CIRCUS" No damage or crazing, but knife marks, and the gilding is worn. Infrequent. Value: £10-15.

Dutch Windmill

Siesta

Vogue

Patterned tea plate
The beautiful pattern looks like an abstract fireworks display, and is presumable late fifties. The matching hollow ware was pale blue. Small blob of pottery trapped under the glaze on the front. Stamped GLO-WHITE IRONSTONE ALFRED MEAKIN ENGLAND with crown logo. (Also seen with the later backstamp: "VOGUE Alfred Meakin, England. A hand engraved pattern applied under the glaze permanent and acid resisting colour." possibly with a weaker-coloured pattern (Thanks to Karen for this information).

The backstamp on this one is very weak, and so I increased the contrast on the photo, right. Value: £5

Cowboy and wagon (name unkown)

Sunflower pattern (name unknown)