John Edwards

John Edwards & Co






 

Location and period of operation:

John Edwards

Longton/Fenton

1847

1873

John Edwards & Co

Fenton

1873

1880

John Edwards

Fenton

1880

1900

 

China & earthenware manufacturer at Longton and then King Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
  • John Edwards operated a factory in Longton and around 1850 moved to the King Street Works in the adjacent town of Fenton. China and earthenware was produced until 1856 when only earthenware was made.

  • At sometime John Edwards was in partnership with James Edwards (relationship uncertain), James left the partnership in January 1865. 

  • Between 1873 and 1879 "& Co" was included in the name.  

  • A significant part of the output was semi-porcelain and white granite for the American markets.

 

 

 


 

The London Gazette
13th January 1865
 


notice of the dissolution of the partnership between
John & James Edwards - John Edwards to carry
on the business on his own account
 

 


The London Gazette
11th December 1877
 


notice of a patent for an improved 
method of supporting ware during firing

 


 

King Street Works 

These works were established in the latter part of last century [18th C.] by Mr. Shelley, who was succeeded by Mr. Marsh, from whom they passed to Messrs. T. & J. Carey. The productions of these firms were the ordinary Rockingham ware and common classes of earthenware ; Messrs. Carey also occupying two other manufactories at Longton. 

They were next held by a company, and about 1850 passed into the hands of the present proprietor, Mr. John Edwards. The goods now produced are semi-porcelain and white granite for the American markets. Until 1856 Mr. Edwards produced china in addition, but this has since then been discontinued. Mr. Edwards is patentee of a process for making thimble pins; and he also, in 1859, took out a patent for "improvements in stacking or holding biscuit, earthen, china, and glossed ware for firing" by means of "a ring frame or holder, with a rim or flange projecting inwardly, so as to occupy the whole or part of the centre of the ring."

The Ceramic Art of Great Britain - Llewellynn Jewitt. 1878

 


 
large flow blue platter in the Coberg pattern 

c.1847-73 

 


 

 
lidded tureen in the Ophir pattern 

c.1891-1900 


 

fragment bearing a John Edwards mark found
on the beach at North Haven Island, Maine, USA

c.1891-1900

photo courtesy: Kaitlyn Kirby 

John Edwards produced significant amounts of 
semi-porcelain and white granite for the American markets

 



Marks & initials used on ware for identification:

 

J. E.
impressed or printed - c.1847-73 

 

J. E. & Co
c. 1873-79

JOHN EDWARDS & CO
c. 1873-79

JOHN EDWARDS
c. 1880-1900

 

PORCELAINE DE TERRE

 


 


J E 
impressed or printed - c.1847-73 

'Coberg' is a pattern name 

 


 


J. Edwards
President Shape 

impressed mark with a registration diamond


 


Warranted Ironstone China
John Edwards 

Porcelaine De Terre
John Edwards 

printed marks without ENGLAND
c.1880-1891 


 


Porcelaine De Terre
John Edwards 
England

'Holland' is a pattern name 


Porcelaine De Terre
John Edwards 
England

'Medallion' is a pattern name 

the registration number 269590 shows that the pattern was registered in 1896 

printed marks including ENGLAND
c.1891-1900 

 

 


Po_
John Ed_
Engla_

shard found [2024] on a beach on Anglesey, Wales

photo courtesy: Seb Green

 


Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks