Royal Albert Crown China marks changed greatly from it's very early years up to time it incorporated in 1933 and dropped "Crown" from it's name in 1935. But throughout its history, the one constant in the mark was the depiction of a crown. And the makers have always used a variety of crown shapes.
Thomas Clark Wild and Sons
The oldest Royal Albert mark will simply show the initials T. C. W. with a crown above. These pieces date from 1896 to 1904.
The T. C. W. mark stood for the original potter, Thomas Clark Wild & Sons Ltd. who worked out of Crown China works in Longton, Staffordshire, one of several towns in the area known for its potters. Thomas was the founder of the pottery which actually began production in 1884.
In 1904 Thomas changed the name to Royal Albert Crown China, named for Prince Albert who would later become King George VI after his brother's abdication. Royal Albert Crown China soon evolved to Royal Albert China.
Royal Albert Crown China
From 1905 to 1907, the mark became a circle and within the circle, a crown. Bordering the inside edge of the solid circular line are the words Royal Albert Crown China. There is another circle within and a crown within the smaller circle.
While this was the basic mark, there were occasions when the letters T. C. W. would show up under the crown but still within the circle. If the pattern had a name, it could show up above the circle or below the crown.
"England" was not yet added to the mark.
1907 to 1922 China Marks
From 1907 to 1922, Royal Albert Crown China was given a new mark. The circle remained, but the crown was placed above it on the outside and the initials T. C. W were placed in the middle of the circle, each letter layered over each other. The word "England" appeared on the China for the first time, placed below the circle.
From 1917 onward, the solid circular line was removed. It was simplified to "Royal Albert" at the top, a crown stamp below it and "Crown China" below that. Underneath "Crown China," it would read "England" with "T. C. W." below that. Occasional variations showed the T.C. W. printed beneath the crown, rather than beneath England.
Royal Albert Crown China Marks to 1935
The initials T. C. W. were completely phased out from 1925 to 1927. And later in these years, the words "Made in England" rather than simply "England" began to be incorporated into the mark.
From 1927 onward, the company began individualizing the marks and naming the china patterns. Sometimes the mark would show a colorful miniature depiction of the flower on the piece, like "American Beauty" rose pattern, or a depiction of the flower in "Valentine." This was the art deco period and the marks were designed in art deco styles.
Royal Albert Crown China also began to make bone china pieces for other companies and the marks would indicate this with the words "Made for ... " added.
Also in this period, certain patterns chosen by members of Britain's Royal Family would include the words "As supplied to ..." preceding the name of the family member.
In 1933, the company incorporated and two years later, Royal Albert Crown China became simply Royal Albert China – all marks thereafter replacing the word "Crown" with "Bone."
To learn about the later Royal Albert marks, please read Royal Albert Back Stamp Marks Dating from 1935.
For photos of Royal Albert Marks, Royal Albert Patterns has a page devoted to photographs of marks throughout the potter's history.
To learn about collecting English bone china tea cups please read Collecting English Bone China Tea Cups, as well as Buying Tips for Antique and Vintage Ceramics to show the collector what to look for and what to avoid. Many collectors collect not just Royal Albert Crown China, but a hodge-podge. Pretty Bone China Collections might inspire the cottage chic decorator as well as the collector.
Lorraine Syratt - Lorraine Syratt is a freelance writer, gardener and part-time antique dealer. Please see her full profile for more information.
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