Dating Wedgwood & Minton
By using the charts below along with the charts provided on this web site’s page outlining the English Registry mark,
dating Wedgwood and Minton is somewhat easy to accomplish.
Wedgwood Majolica Salmon Platter
Date Marked 1877
Wedgwood Date Marks
After 1891 the word ENGLAND was added to the WEDGWOOD stamp and used until 1908, when it was replaced by the words MADE IN ENGLAND. Bone china was manufactured between 1812 and 1830, then abandoned until 1878. Majolica was first produced by Wedgwood in 1860 and continued until 1940.
THE LETTER / NUMBER CODES
In 1860 the Wedgwood factory started marking its wares with the date of manufacture impressed in each piece as part of a three letter code. The first letter of the code represents the month of manufacture, the second identified the potter who threw the shape, and the last letter denotes the year the piece was made starting with 0 for 1860. The series was repeated 4 times. From 1929 on, the year mark is replaced by the last two digits of the year, 30 standing for 1930.
Minton Majolica Frog and Mushroom Bowl,
Date marked 1867
Minton Date Marks
Thomas Minton opened his factory in Stoke in 1796, producing earthenware majolica, bone china, and Parian porcelain. He popularized the Willow pattern, quickly becoming a major source of 19th Century dinnerware.
Minton Majolica was created by Joseph Leon Francois Arnoux, who was appointed art director in 1848. He developed a majolica pottery based on the work of Bernard Palissy, whose works were popular in the 16th Century. Arnoux used a sturdy, thick bodied clay coated in an opaque white glaze, and over painted with brightly colored lead based glazes. This pottery was exhibited at The Great Exhibition of 1851.
Chart of impressed Minton date cyphers
for the years 1842-1942.
Impressed date cypher for the year 1867.
Minton printed marks used on majolica
and non-majolica wares.