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Page 30 The Antique Shoppe July, 2017
SHELLEY CHINA
By Greg Sullivan and Carolyn Keating
The English county of Staffordshire of tea cup shapes - in excess of 160 were
conjures up images of fine china. Located in produced. Literally thousands of patterns
the West Midlands of England with just over were designed onto these shapes. Given
1000 square miles, its worldwide reputation the fickleness of some fashion trends,
was built by an incredible concentration of some shapes and patterns were only
skilled potters in the six small towns that produced for a number of months
make up Stoke-on-Trent. Over the course of while others stood the test of time and
the 19 century as many as 1500 potteries persisted as many as 70 years. Royal
th
existed in Stoke-on-Trent. Indeed, several
of the World’s largest pottery manufacturers Introduced in 1926, Queen Anne with its
are still based there. eight-paneled shape was an ideal platform
Among the best-known china for colorful images. Subjects evolved from
manufacturers that originated in Stoke are detailed florals to a huge variety of Chintz
patterns.
Lustreware
The late 19 century cups and saucers
th
evoked the period. Shapes were often
complex and reflected Victorian and
Edwardian interest in the Orient and ornate
designs. Amongst these shapes were
Alexandra, Daisy, Early Court, Empire, Royal Queen
and Shell. Anne
One of the early shapes that endured
until Shelley production ceased was the Idealized geometric patterns fore-
Dainty shape. Created by Rowland Morris shadowed the development of geometric
Intarsio for Wileman in 1896, the Dainty shape more inspired shapes such as Vogue and Mode
than any other has become synonymous in the 1930’s.
Wedgwood, Aynsley, Minton, Royal Doulton, with Wileman and its successor Shelley
and Spode. One of the most prized amongst Potteries.
collectors is a manufacturer with whom the
reader may not be familiar. Shelley Potteries
can trace its roots to 1820 when forerunners
of the Wileman family began producing
pottery in the Foley region of Staffordshire.
Wileman & Company eventually became
Shelley Potteries as various partners and
family members succeeded in the business. Vogue
Shelley Potteries remained in business until
1966 when Allied English Potteries took over Following WWII floral patterns, land-
the company and absorbed its operations Early Court scapes and scenes prevailed and Dainty
into their Montrose Works producing Royal was joined by more modern shapes such as
Albert bone china. Throughout its history Cambridge, Ludlow and Ripon.
Shelley Potteries kept up with fashion The translucent quality, delicacy and
trends in design and pattern and employed beauty of the Shelley shapes and patterns
some of the most visionary art directors and the seemingly endless combinations
and artists. These included Frederick Rhead make antique hunting for Shelley
in the prime of his career and the father - challenging and rewarding. If you are
son combination of Walter and Eric Slater. interested in learning more, the National
Wileman and Shelley produced many Shelley China Club maintains a web site at
beautiful and innovative forms of art www.shelleychinaclub.com. The Club holds
pottery in earthenware and bone china. regional meetings around the USA and
Intarsio, Faience, Lustreware and Harmony Canada as well as a general meeting once
are several examples. each year in a different city and welcomes
Fascination with Shelley amongst Empire new members with an enthusiasm to share
collectors is driven by an enormous variety this happy avocation.
