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Cat cruet Theme: Ball-shaped salt and peppers (1970) Mint apart from a pin head loss of black paint near the top of each pattern (see detail, right). Value: £20-40, but an orange pair in the same pattern sold for only £6, so the price is volatile. Value: £ 20-40 |
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Fish cruet Theme: Ball-shaped salt and peppers (1970) Mint condition. Value: £ 20-40 |
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Beans-on-toast cruet Theme: Bean Bag range (1980) What a great, happy piece this is - and one of the high points of British post-war quirky ceramics. Imagine how horrified the bow-tie brigade on the Antiques Roadshow would be if they saw this masterpiece of retro fun. A salt and pepper pot, shaped as smiling beans, sitting on a piece of toast. Mint and possibly unused with no damage or crazing, except for a couple of crazing lines on the underside of the beans, and a small loss of black paint on the 'smile' of the green bean. Value: £ 30-50 |
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Egg cup Theme: Bean Bag range (1980) The red is handpainted over the glaze. One of a pair in unused condition. Also seen in green. One appeared on eBay with no paint at all, only the blue colour and an all-white bean with no face*. Carlton Ware is sometimes seen undecorated. According to a contact of mine: "Lots of these pieces you see undecorated are from the time the factory closed & are that way because they were unfinished. The crocodiles come without painted eyes from this time. The remaining wares from the stockroom were sold off as they stood & were bought as job lots (often by local traders for relatively small prices) & sold for some time after the factory closed. Thus the later ranges can often be found unfinished." Value: £ 6-20 (each) |
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Old orange-peel pot and saucer Theme: Citrus peel With the backstamp for 1906-1927. These are not so common as the post-war pieces. This one has some brown stains to the interior, some spots of orange paint-loss, and some crazing to the saucer. Value: £ 15-25 (if mint) |
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Orange-peel jug Theme: Citrus peel I inherited this from my grandparents via my mother; it started my craze for retro ceramics in 2001. Value: £ 10-20 |
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Pair of citrus squeezers Theme: Citrus peel Each consisting of jug and detachable squeezer. One jug has orange-peel effect, the other lemon. Both jugs have peach-coloured interiors. Both undamaged and uncrazed, although the lemon has some rubbing to the yellow paint over the equator. In my experience, the squeezer-jugs had peach coloured interiors, whereas the milk jugs had white interiors. Value: £ 20-35 (one, complete) |
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Sugar bowl Theme: Citrus peel In mint condition. Value: £ 10-20 |
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Jug and sugar bowl Theme: Denim (c. 1978) No handles. Both pristine apart from a tiny pin prick on the margin of the jug. Overglaze yellow-gold backstamp, but no number. Value: £ 25-35 |
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Salt and Pepper Theme: Denim (c. 1978) The pepper appears to be a second, with a flake of pottery on the lower edge that has been covered by the transfer. Value: £ 20-30 (pair, if mint) |
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Tea pot Theme: Denim (c. 1978) With wicker handle and sliding wicker retaining rings to allow the handle to be detached for cleaning. Mint condition. Value: £ 20-30 |
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Blackberry (c. 1971) Theme: Fruit jam-pots Mould number 3068. Value: £ 25-35 |
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Pineapple (1971-72) Theme: Fruit jam-pots This shape was mould number 3064. Value: £ 2 |
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Strawberry (c. 1970s) Theme: Fruit jam-pots No damage but overall scattered crazing lines. The backstamp dates it to c. 1968-78. Value: £ 25-35 |
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Lamp-base (original; 1957) Theme: Guinness range from designs by John Gilroy (English) Hi resolution image available With original holes for the electrical fittings. GA2178 backstamp. Click here for larger image. If the original lampshade is also present, then the value is higher; lampshades rarely survive in good condition. This piece is in mint condition apart from some crazing lines to the froth on the pint. Note the fine quality of the original paintwork: reproductions are crudely done by comparison. There is also a display piece, which is similar to the lamp base but but lacks the holes; it is rarer. See the Guinness Collectors Club website for further information. Value: £ 150-350 (genuine original) |
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Set of 3 flying toucans (original) Theme: Guinness range from designs by John Gilroy (English) Buyer beware: apart from the fakes described above, there are some nostalgia reissues (not from Carlton Ware) currently on sale in British high-street speciality shops. They are slightly better painted than the fakes, and have detailed painting round the feet. They are already being listed on eBay as 'originals', which they are not. Note that the set illustrated here are genuine originals! The large size is illustrated. There is some crazing to the white area of the breast. Click here for larger image, and note the handpainting to the feet and around the eyes, and the blend between colours on the belly; fakes have abruptly-bordered blocks of unblended colour. Value: £ 250-350 (set of 3: genuine originals); fakes and reissues: £20-45 |
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Mug Theme: James Blackmore Guinness series With gilding. An egg cup, milk jug, teapot and sugar bowl are also seen. Marked: "Specially produced for Arthur Guinness by James Blackmore Limited". c. 1980s. Mint, unused condition with no damage to the gilding. Value: £ 15-30 |
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Oil bottle Theme: Java pattern on Oslo shape, 1969 Unused but with crazing. Value: £ |
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Boomerang-shape fruit bowl (1958-59) Theme: Linen Mould number 2446. The teracotta-coloured overglaze bears a sgraffito pattern. Some have "Australian Design" stamped, but this one doesn't. Perfect condition: appears unused. Infrequent. Value: £ 25-55 |
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Freeform flared vase (1958-59) Theme: Linen Mould 2442. This body shape is more often seen with a plain background and a white sprig of flowers as decoration. Used, and with inconspicuous traces of water-staining to the interior; but otherwise mint, and with no crazing or scratches (other than the sgraffito). Rare. Value: £ 20-30 |
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Freeform narrow vase (1958-59) Theme: Linen Mould 2447. Also seen in plain, dark brown glaze. Used but undamaged and with no crazing or scratches. Rare. Value: £ 15-25 |
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Cube cruet (1969-70) Theme: Miscellaneous Orange pepper pot with plastic stopper (left, mould indistinct: ?2957) and red lidded mustard pot (right, mould number distinct: 2957). These are from different sets because the colours do not match. These sets came originally on a square ceramic tray (missing here), with slightly convex edges, and red-painted on the upper surface. Another variant is a set of 3 (salt, pepper, mustard) arranged in a row on a rectangular tray. No damage, but a couple of crazing lines on the base of the pepper. The backstamp of the mustard is shown here. This script backstamp was withdrawn in 1970. A contact has kindly emailed with more information on this piece: 'My mother bought my Chartreuse green cruet [3 cubes on a tray; sometime in the early 1970s; sans serif back stamp not script] for my nana. The dish has the number 2957 on the base, along side a triangular black and white sticker which says “as selected for the Design Centre London”. It was bought in Auckland, New Zealand. Value: £ 8-20 (this pair, no tray) |
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Set of 6 spice jars No. 2988 (c. 1969) Theme: Miscellaneous With cork stoppers. Five have the black backstamp (right, top) and one has the yellow lithographed overglaze stamp (right, bottom). Mint condition, with only a few crazing lines on the bottoms. The organge is painted and never crazes. Value: £ 15-20 |
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Bug-eyed bird money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) Mint condition, and with stopper. Value: £ 20-50 |
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Bug-eyed frog money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) Couple of flecks of the transfer. Value: £ 25 |
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Bug-eyed frog money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) This one has a wonderful big froggy mouth, and a Victorian floral pattern that is typical late 1960s or early 1970s. Mint condition, with only dark pencil or utensil marks (but no damage) where soemone has tried to lever the bung out. Plastic stopper embossed MADE IN ENGLAND. Value: £ 20-50 |
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Bug-eyed owl money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) Mint condition, with stopper. Value: £ 30 |
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Bug-eyed snail money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) Couple of flecks on the transfer. Value: £ 25 |
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Coldstream guard money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) Mint condition. Value: £ 15-25 |
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Coloured bird money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) With colourful pattern of flowers and feathers. The back is plain. No crazing or cracks. There is a small burst paint bubble on one orange petal, and if you put your finger inside the bung hole there is roughness and unevenness to the inside lip. This may simply be in the manufacturing or possibly caused by falling coins. There is a clear plastic stopper. Backstamp: Made in England. Value: £ |
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Peacock money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) Hi resolution image available With a very dark blue transfer print; superb late 60s or early 70s graphic design. Also seen in a multi-coloured version. The back is blank. With a gold Carlton Ware backstamp (slightly crumpled at the end) and a clear plastic stopper embossed MADE IN ENGLAND. Mint condition. Value: £ 20-40 |
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Pig money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) With floral pattern. Mint condition. Value: £ 20-40 |
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Policeman money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) Mint condition. Value: £ 15-25 |
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Train money box Theme: Money boxes (c. 1969) With pattern of numbers, etc. Mint condition. Value: £ 15-30 |
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Bath-shaped soap dish Theme: Novelties Now we are getting really silly! I love this piece. It is in mint, unused condition. Value: £ 20 |
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Burger bun scouring pad holder Theme: Novelties A clam-shpaed object in the form of a burger bun. It even has the dimples on top, and a dark-brown painted rim presumably meant to be the burger. It is moulded in one piece, not hinged. Usually described as an ashtray, this novelty was in fact for scouring pads, as revealed by the label on this pair (only one is shown). I found them in the shop Posh Junk in Mitcham, London, in August 2005. They both have labels on top reading: SCOURING PAD HOLDER ALSO FOR WATCHES, RINGS & THINGS CARLTON WARE LTD S-O-T MADE IN ENGLAND. Both have the impressed number 3372 (I think), which dates them to around 1981; and a letter scratched by hand under the glaze into the body (one has a W, the other an E). Unused condition with no damage or crazing. In view of the identification of this item as a kitchen accessory, it is possible that the shark's head below had a similar function. Value: £ They cost £15 for the pair. |
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Fried egg Theme: Novelties From the Hovis range? The yolk can be turned upside down to be used as the egg cup. The cup often has a small spot of glaze-miss where it was held during dipping. Difficult to find undamaged. This one completely mint with no crazing. Value: very variable. One sold for £55 recently, another did not sell at all! This volatility probably means that the number of buyers is very low, but the ones who are out there are very interested. Value: £ please read description |
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Nail cruets (1980) Theme: Novelties Another Lustre Pottery design. Shaped like a pair of nails or tacks. These are both pepper pots. Marked with an underglaze backstamp CARLTON WARE ENGLAND © LUSTRE POTTERY 1980. Value: £ 5-10 |
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Plug ashtray Theme: Novelties urely one of the most bizarre ceramics items ever produced in England. This large object has a lower bowl, a larger, detachable perforated disc, and a ceramic plug embossed THE CARLTON WARE PLUG ASHTRAY, complete with metal chain. The lower bowl is backstamped Carlton Ware England Lustre Pottery 1980. In mint condition and almost certainly unused (hardly surprising in view of the fact that it is so ungainly in shape). It is a miracle if these survive undamaged. The plug ashtray was part of the Functional Fun range, that included a wing nut vase, nut & bolt salt & pepper, tap teapot, milkshake preserve, ice cream-wafer butter dish, bow-tie cruet and other items. Lustre pottery also made a butter dish for Carlton Ware in the shape of a cow in a bathtub (marked LUSTRE POTTERY 1976) Value: £ 5-15 |
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Shark's head scouring pad holder Theme: Novelties An eBayer in America tells me that she bought one of these new, and it had a white plastic scrubbing pad in its mouth. Perhaps produced in the wake of the first 'Jaws' film (1975); it carries a backstamp dating it to c. 1968-1978. Value: £ 5-15 |
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Sheep mint-sauce boat (No. 3321) c. 1978 Theme: Novelties The backstamp is underglaze, and stopped being used after c. 1978. Presumably for mint sauce and not gravy: there is no handle, and so it would be too hot to pick up if filled with gravy. The green plate represents the 'grass'. Also seen as: biscuit barrel with detachable head; and a toast rack. Value: £ 7-30 (the lower end is for the sheep only with no plate). |
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Onion-shaped cruet set Theme: Onion-shaped cruet set A gift from sue. Value: £ |
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Cruet set Theme: Orbit, designed in the 1950s by Peter Forster Mustard stamped ?2654; tray stamped but number illegible; tray with backstamp (see right); salt and pepper unmarked. Mustard with red plastic spoon. Mint apart from a pinprick to the red on the edge of the salt. Value: £ 45 |
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Dredger Theme: Orbit, designed in the 1950s by Peter Forster Minute pinprick to the red paint on the top edge; otherwise mint. Value: £ 20-55 |
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Large coffee pot Theme: Orbit, designed in the 1950s by Peter Forster Number is possibly 2644. Mint condition. Value: £ 70-125 |
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Small coffee/water pot Theme: Orbit, designed in the 1950s by Peter Forster Number is possible 2680. Mint condition except for a paint flake on the rim of the lid. Value: £ 40-70 |
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Sunglow square dish Theme: Skye (1969) Impressed 2846. No damage; a couple of crazing lines in the corners; looks unused. Value: £ 5 |
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Thistle buffet tray Theme: Skye (1969) In a purple red-wine colour, impressed 2813. Mint condition. Gift from Sue. Value: £ |
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Black vase Theme: Wellington (1971) A rare colour. In mint condition. With original sticker (Carlton Ware, Made in England) and impressed number (unreadable). Value: £ 10-15 |
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Candleholders Theme: Wellington (1971) In bright yellow. a few crazing lines on the lower ring, otherwise mint. Value: £ 10 |
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Candleholders Theme: Wellington (1971) In yellow with a tinge of green. Shrinkage line on rim of one. Value: £ 2-4 |
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Candlesticks Theme: Wellington (1971) One is orange and one red. Both carry the impressed number 2981 (c. 1969) and the non-script stamp used between 1968 and 1978. Pristine except for some crazing on the non-painted underside of the red one. Value: £ 25 (pair) |
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Coffee pot Theme: Wellington (1971) In unused condition - these are usually damaged, which is hardly surprising given the ungainly shape. With impressed number (unreadable). Value: £ 12-18 |
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Footed red mugs Theme: Wellington (1971) All have crazing underneath, and a couple of paint pinpricks, but otherwise in excellent condition. Note that two have the gold backstamp, and one has the black. Value: £ 2-4 |
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Footed red mugs Theme: Wellington (1971) Both have crazing underneath, and one has a rim crack, the other undamaged. Value: £2-4 (each, if mint). Value: £ 10-15 |
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Orange cruet Theme: Wellington (1971) In pristine condition apart from some crazing on the underside. Classic 'Panton era' in its colour and shape. Value: £ 4-15 (pair) |
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Orange jug Theme: Wellington (1971) In pristine, unused condition. Value: £ 5-10 |
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Orange ribbed mug Theme: Wellington (1971) Hairline crack in foot. Value: £ 2-4 |
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Orange ribbed sugar bowl Theme: Wellington (1971) Mint except for some crazing underneath. Impressed number ?2983. Value: £ 4-6 |
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Red ribbed mug Theme: Wellington (1971) Mint condition. With overglaze yellow script stamp, indicating a date from the 1970s or later. Impressed number unreadable. Value: £ 2-4 |
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Small red candle holder Theme: Wellington (1971) With the impressed number 2982. Undamaged, except for a few crazing lines underneath, a couple of pinhead paint losses, and a barely visible split in the paintwork on the upper rim, presumably caused by hot wax on the paint. It looks like a crack, but does not pass through the ceramic body. Value: £ 5-15 |
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Vase in bright orange Theme: Wellington (1971) Lovely undamaged piece. Impressed 2973/1. Value: £ 10-15 |
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Vase in pillar-box red Theme: Wellington (1971) Beautiful piece in mint undamaged condition with only a few scattered crazing lines on the white interior. Gold-yellow script backstamp and impressed number 2973/1 which is consistent with a date around 1971. Value: £ 10-15 |
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Yellow salt and pepper Theme: Wellington (1971) No damage but overall scattered crazing lines. Value: £ 3-10 (mint pair) |
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Background information
"Carlton Ware" was originally a trade name of Wiltshaw and Robinson (Ltd) based at the Carlton Works, Stoke-onTrent, from c.1890. The business was renamed 'Carlton Ware Ltd' in January 1958 (information from thepotteries.org). It was taken over by Arthur Wood in 1967. All pieces here are earthenware. N.B. the spelling is Carlton Ware, not Carltonware.
Quick list. Click to jump down to the description
Ball-shaped salt and peppers (1970) Bean Bag range (1980) Citrus peel Denim (c. 1978) Fruit jam-pots Guinness range from designs by John Gilroy (English) James Blackmore Guinness series Java pattern on Oslo shape, 1969 Linen Miscellaneous Money boxes (c. 1969) Novelties Onion-shaped cruet set Orbit, designed in the 1950s by Peter Forster Skye (1969) Wellington (1971)
Click a theme to see all the related items
Ball-shaped salt and peppers (1970)
A range with two hemispherical pots (salt and pepper) fitting together to make a ball. With a very bold graphic design, typical of the late sixties or seventies. Also seen on a browny-orange body. Other designs in the series include a lion, an owl, a stylised elephant with coiled trunk, and a flower. These pieces are backstamped only: MADE IN ENGLAND. However, a contact who has seen a trade catalogue from Carlton Ware of this period has kindly emailed to say that these are indeed by Carlton Ware.
Bean Bag range (1980)
This wonderful range includes a cruet (2 beans on a piece of ceramic toast), a honey pot (with red bean crawling on top towards a bee), a mug with red bean holding on to the bottom of the striped handle, and red or green beans with chef's hats, holding an egg cup (below). Backstamped: 'Bean Bag Productions 1980'.
Citrus peel
Carlton Ware made small pots, jugs and squeezers that imitate the dimpled peel of oranges or lemons. Although they look retro, the designs have their origins in the early to mid twentieth century. I don't know what the official name was, but I call them citrus peel. The colour on many of them is overglaze, and liable to rubbing and flaking. They are pretty common, although it can be difficult to find the squeezers intact and in perfect condition. The orange colour is the commonest, followed by yellow, and then the scarce lime green colourway. Beswick and Crown Devon also made orange-peel or lemon-peel items. Beswick mould numbers 207-1 and 2 is an orange marmalade pot with a flower finial (often damaged), that closely resemble the equivalent Carlton Ware and Crown Devon pieces. The Beswick pieces were in production from 1933-1970.
Denim (c. 1978)
This pattern shows a man and a woman, in front and rear view. There is some ambiguity because, within each same-sex couple, one arm appears to be shared. It is not clear, therefore, who is touching whom, and whose hand is in whose pocket. The range was not a big seller.
Fruit jam-pots
The pieces below date from the 1970s, but Beswick were producing apple-shaped jam pots in 1933. However, no fruit pot has ever been as luscious as these Carlton Ware pieces. Carlton ware also made a range of table ware, shaped like apples and pears, in the 1960s, which are more common than the pieces below.
Guinness range from designs by John Gilroy (English)
Buyer beware! There are many fakes in circulation (including most of the toucans listed on eBay). The fakes have gaudy colours, and lack the subtle blending and gradation between colours that the originals have. Worse still, the fakes have the Carlton Ware backstamp, like the originals. On the original standing toucans (but not the flying ones), the orange of the beak is matt overglaze and therefore often scratched. The originals have subtle painting round the eyes. The pieces shown here are undamaged originals, but it is quite common for originals to have been professionally restored. The tails on the toucans are easily damaged, so check for repainting and fracture lines. Other fakes: I am not sure, but I am rather suspiscious about some of the Bulmer's Cider woodpeckers, and two human figures which have suspiciously crude painting, namely the 'Hitler' (which may never have been in production although the original mould may have been used for reproductions) and the 'Golfer' figure. Please email me if you know anything more about these pieces.
James Blackmore Guinness series
No description available
Java pattern on Oslo shape, 1969
The Oslo body shape dates from February, 1969. Only Carlton Ware could produce a psychedelic pattern - in black and white. Very graphic. Not one of the commonest designs, presumably because it wasn't popular. I like it, though. A contact emails to say that she has a trade advertisement from Sept. 69 reading: "Java" bold black & white floral decoration on the established Oslo shape".
Linen
A stunning* and largely unknown range of freeform bowls and vases, showing some of the purest fifties styling produced by any English ceramics factory. Seen in terracotta, lemon-yellow or green sgraffito patterns; in black or lime green plain glossy glaze; in dark brown glossy glaze with a dividing ridge in the middle; or plain colour gloss background and a white sprig of flowers motif. (*The word 'stunning' is copyright all eBay ceramics listers).
Miscellaneous
No description available
Money boxes (c. 1969)
Carlton Ware made a range of money boxes with colourful, psychedelic prints on the side (cat, train, clown, guardsman, Scotsman, Beefeater, girl and boy heads, owl, pirate, pig, horse, old-woman-in-a-shoe, ark, fruit decoration, etc.). They also made bug-eyed animals (bird, snail, frog) with ornate Victorian revival rococo prints (typical of the late sixties and early seventies). Most of the money boxes have no room for an impressed number, but the train money does, and so can be dated to 1969. Money boxes often have roughness or nibbles round the inside rim of the bung hole where coins have fallen from a height. Since these are out of sight, they are not usually considered a problem. The standing bird money boxes sometimes carry the full Carlton Ware script backstamp near the bung hole. However, since this backstamp is difficult to apply round the hole (see the crumpling of the transfer on the peacock money box, below) it is possible that is was replaced by the simpler 'MADE IN ENGLAND' transfer (see the coloured bird money box, below). The correct stopper is shown above, and is embossed: MADE IN ENGLAND on the top, and MADE IN ENGLAND REGINA INDUSTRIES on the inside.
Novelties
Carlton Ware is loved by retro collectors for its quirky ceramic novelties produced in the 70s and 80s. Some great ones include the bean-bag range (below); a pelican head vase or ashtray; a white soap dish shaped like a bath, with taps; a white 'dustbin' jam pot (c. late 1980s); a 'crocodile' teaset (c. late 1980s); and a sheep mint-sauce boat on a green plate (the 'grass'). These are not highly collected right now. Roger Michell of Lustre Potter designed the highly successful Walking Ware range (tableware with legs and feet). Roger also designed the 'plug' ashtray. Roger still designs and produces his own pottery ranges; visit his website for more details. Other novelties were designed in the 1970s by Danka Napiorkowska.
Onion-shaped cruet set
No description available
Orbit, designed in the 1950s by Peter Forster
Internet buyer beware! Why? Two reasons. First, the orbit design is an overglaze transfer, and therefore liable to wear and scratching. Second, the red colour, like all reds on ceramics of this era, is overglaze, and therefore liable to damage. Note: Burleigh also made a range called Orbit (c. 1969), quite unlike this one, with very bright, graphic patterns.
Skye (1969)
This range has embossed texture (see detail, below) and the colourways were Sunglow (orange-yellow), Roman Green (seventies bile colour) and Thistle (purple). Other shapes in this range include a coffee pot and mugs, circular buffet trays divided radially into compartments, as well as TV sets, with a rectangular saucer, and dishes shaped like 'pieces of pie'. These pieces are not highly collected at this time.
Wellington (1971)
A contact who collects Carlton Ware literature says: 'The first Wellington ad I have is dated Feb. 1971 and it seems that this range was introduced at the Blackpool Trade fair in Feb. that year.' Ribbed or flanged, they resemble the electrical insulators on power lines, or the flanged iron candlestick designs of Robert Welch (1962), and the glass Festivo candlesticks of Timo Sarpaneva for Littala (1967). The Carlton Ware Wellington range was produced in bright yellow, lime green or orange, sometimes with dark brown trim; in white or dark blue with floral patterns; in glossy, under-glaze chocolate brown; and plain, glazed white, black, sky blue or cream; or white grading into brown. Coffee sets, vases and candle holders (with a total of 2, 3 or 5 flanges) are seen, and very rarely a butter dish. A mustard brown variant is seen with an impressed number but no Carlton Ware stamp. These pieces very often have chips or cracks or crazing. Candlesticks may show damage to the cup where wax has been gouged out with a knife. With the red ones, the colour is overglaze and therefore does not craze - but is very prone to chipping, and often shows pinpoint losses. Surprisingly, for such classic space-age items, they are hardly collected at this time.
| Carlton Ware Themes |
Ball-shaped salt and peppers (1970) Bean Bag range (1980) Citrus peel Denim (c. 1978) Fruit jam-pots Guinness range from designs by John Gilroy (English) James Blackmore Guinness series Java pattern on Oslo shape, 1969 Linen Miscellaneous Money boxes (c. 1969) Novelties Onion-shaped cruet set Orbit, designed in the 1950s by Peter Forster Skye (1969) Wellington (1971)
Click a theme to see all the related items
Ball-shaped salt and peppers (1970)
A range with two hemispherical pots (salt and pepper) fitting together to make a ball. With a very bold graphic design, typical of the late sixties or seventies. Also seen on a browny-orange body. Other designs in the series include a lion, an owl, a stylised elephant with coiled trunk, and a flower. These pieces are backstamped only: MADE IN ENGLAND. However, a contact who has seen a trade catalogue from Carlton Ware of this period has kindly emailed to say that these are indeed by Carlton Ware.
Bean Bag range (1980)
This wonderful range includes a cruet (2 beans on a piece of ceramic toast), a honey pot (with red bean crawling on top towards a bee), a mug with red bean holding on to the bottom of the striped handle, and red or green beans with chef's hats, holding an egg cup (below). Backstamped: 'Bean Bag Productions 1980'.
Citrus peel
Carlton Ware made small pots, jugs and squeezers that imitate the dimpled peel of oranges or lemons. Although they look retro, the designs have their origins in the early to mid twentieth century. I don't know what the official name was, but I call them citrus peel. The colour on many of them is overglaze, and liable to rubbing and flaking. They are pretty common, although it can be difficult to find the squeezers intact and in perfect condition. The orange colour is the commonest, followed by yellow, and then the scarce lime green colourway. Beswick and Crown Devon also made orange-peel or lemon-peel items. Beswick mould numbers 207-1 and 2 is an orange marmalade pot with a flower finial (often damaged), that closely resemble the equivalent Carlton Ware and Crown Devon pieces. The Beswick pieces were in production from 1933-1970.
Denim (c. 1978)
This pattern shows a man and a woman, in front and rear view. There is some ambiguity because, within each same-sex couple, one arm appears to be shared. It is not clear, therefore, who is touching whom, and whose hand is in whose pocket. The range was not a big seller.
Fruit jam-pots
The pieces below date from the 1970s, but Beswick were producing apple-shaped jam pots in 1933. However, no fruit pot has ever been as luscious as these Carlton Ware pieces. Carlton ware also made a range of table ware, shaped like apples and pears, in the 1960s, which are more common than the pieces below.
Guinness range from designs by John Gilroy (English)
Buyer beware! There are many fakes in circulation (including most of the toucans listed on eBay). The fakes have gaudy colours, and lack the subtle blending and gradation between colours that the originals have. Worse still, the fakes have the Carlton Ware backstamp, like the originals. On the original standing toucans (but not the flying ones), the orange of the beak is matt overglaze and therefore often scratched. The originals have subtle painting round the eyes. The pieces shown here are undamaged originals, but it is quite common for originals to have been professionally restored. The tails on the toucans are easily damaged, so check for repainting and fracture lines. Other fakes: I am not sure, but I am rather suspiscious about some of the Bulmer's Cider woodpeckers, and two human figures which have suspiciously crude painting, namely the 'Hitler' (which may never have been in production although the original mould may have been used for reproductions) and the 'Golfer' figure. Please email me if you know anything more about these pieces.
James Blackmore Guinness series
No description available
Java pattern on Oslo shape, 1969
The Oslo body shape dates from February, 1969. Only Carlton Ware could produce a psychedelic pattern - in black and white. Very graphic. Not one of the commonest designs, presumably because it wasn't popular. I like it, though. A contact emails to say that she has a trade advertisement from Sept. 69 reading: "Java" bold black & white floral decoration on the established Oslo shape".
Linen
A stunning* and largely unknown range of freeform bowls and vases, showing some of the purest fifties styling produced by any English ceramics factory. Seen in terracotta, lemon-yellow or green sgraffito patterns; in black or lime green plain glossy glaze; in dark brown glossy glaze with a dividing ridge in the middle; or plain colour gloss background and a white sprig of flowers motif. (*The word 'stunning' is copyright all eBay ceramics listers).
Miscellaneous
No description available
Money boxes (c. 1969)
Carlton Ware made a range of money boxes with colourful, psychedelic prints on the side (cat, train, clown, guardsman, Scotsman, Beefeater, girl and boy heads, owl, pirate, pig, horse, old-woman-in-a-shoe, ark, fruit decoration, etc.). They also made bug-eyed animals (bird, snail, frog) with ornate Victorian revival rococo prints (typical of the late sixties and early seventies). Most of the money boxes have no room for an impressed number, but the train money does, and so can be dated to 1969. Money boxes often have roughness or nibbles round the inside rim of the bung hole where coins have fallen from a height. Since these are out of sight, they are not usually considered a problem. The standing bird money boxes sometimes carry the full Carlton Ware script backstamp near the bung hole. However, since this backstamp is difficult to apply round the hole (see the crumpling of the transfer on the peacock money box, below) it is possible that is was replaced by the simpler 'MADE IN ENGLAND' transfer (see the coloured bird money box, below). The correct stopper is shown above, and is embossed: MADE IN ENGLAND on the top, and MADE IN ENGLAND REGINA INDUSTRIES on the inside.
Novelties
Carlton Ware is loved by retro collectors for its quirky ceramic novelties produced in the 70s and 80s. Some great ones include the bean-bag range (below); a pelican head vase or ashtray; a white soap dish shaped like a bath, with taps; a white 'dustbin' jam pot (c. late 1980s); a 'crocodile' teaset (c. late 1980s); and a sheep mint-sauce boat on a green plate (the 'grass'). These are not highly collected right now. Roger Michell of Lustre Potter designed the highly successful Walking Ware range (tableware with legs and feet). Roger also designed the 'plug' ashtray. Roger still designs and produces his own pottery ranges; visit his website for more details. Other novelties were designed in the 1970s by Danka Napiorkowska.
Onion-shaped cruet set
No description available
Orbit, designed in the 1950s by Peter Forster
Internet buyer beware! Why? Two reasons. First, the orbit design is an overglaze transfer, and therefore liable to wear and scratching. Second, the red colour, like all reds on ceramics of this era, is overglaze, and therefore liable to damage. Note: Burleigh also made a range called Orbit (c. 1969), quite unlike this one, with very bright, graphic patterns.
Skye (1969)
This range has embossed texture (see detail, below) and the colourways were Sunglow (orange-yellow), Roman Green (seventies bile colour) and Thistle (purple). Other shapes in this range include a coffee pot and mugs, circular buffet trays divided radially into compartments, as well as TV sets, with a rectangular saucer, and dishes shaped like 'pieces of pie'. These pieces are not highly collected at this time.
Wellington (1971)
A contact who collects Carlton Ware literature says: 'The first Wellington ad I have is dated Feb. 1971 and it seems that this range was introduced at the Blackpool Trade fair in Feb. that year.' Ribbed or flanged, they resemble the electrical insulators on power lines, or the flanged iron candlestick designs of Robert Welch (1962), and the glass Festivo candlesticks of Timo Sarpaneva for Littala (1967). The Carlton Ware Wellington range was produced in bright yellow, lime green or orange, sometimes with dark brown trim; in white or dark blue with floral patterns; in glossy, under-glaze chocolate brown; and plain, glazed white, black, sky blue or cream; or white grading into brown. Coffee sets, vases and candle holders (with a total of 2, 3 or 5 flanges) are seen, and very rarely a butter dish. A mustard brown variant is seen with an impressed number but no Carlton Ware stamp. These pieces very often have chips or cracks or crazing. Candlesticks may show damage to the cup where wax has been gouged out with a knife. With the red ones, the colour is overglaze and therefore does not craze - but is very prone to chipping, and often shows pinpoint losses. Surprisingly, for such classic space-age items, they are hardly collected at this time.
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