Carlton Ware

The Carlton Ware Story starts in 1890 when J. Wiltshaw formed a partnership with J & W Robinson to create Wiltshaw & Robinson.

Competing with the likes of Crown Devon and Shelley they produced commemorative wares, and Blush and Matt Black porcelains decorated with flowers, which truly represented the late Victorian era.

The period between the two world wars are arguably when things took off for the company. Patterns began to reveal society’s interest in the exotic and the unknown and it was at the Paris Exhibition in 1925 when Wiltshaw & Robinson amazed with bold and stylized Art Deco designs in vividly coloured lustres.

Today it is these ranges including patterns like Bell and Babylon, Jazz, Egyptian Fan and Nightingale that are highly sought after. Carlton Ware went on to produce the Handcraft designs, floral embossed patterns, and later, the Rouge, Bleu, Noire and Vert Royale lustre range during the 1940’s and 50’s.

The factory during the latter half of the century saw it over taken by various owners with the business finally resting in the hands of Francis Joseph.

Visit our Carlton Ware Gallery