Primavesi & Son, earthenware, china, glass retailers

F Primavesi were earthenware, china, glass and hardware merchants in South Wales.

They are included in this database of North Staffordshire potteries because they sold earthenware manufactured by a number of Stoke-on-Trent potters.

The business was established around 1850 by Fedele Primavesi (senior).
According to Godden the style '& Son' appears to date from around 1860.
Later he was joined by his sons Fedele Primavesi jnr, and then Almachilde Primavesi and Egido Primavesi.
A directory entry shows that by at least 1873 the style was '& Sons'
In January 1881 Fedele Primavesi snr left the partnership (probably through his death) and the business was continued by his sons. The name F Primavesi & Sons was continued.
In September 1886 Egido Primavesi was the last of the original sons remaining in the business. He died May 1888.

The London Gazette
12th July 1881

notice of the dissolution of the partnership
after the death of Fedele Primavesi the elder -
the business was continued by his sons

The London Gazette
5th October 1886

notice of the dissolution of the partnership
between Egidio and Almachilde Primavesi -
the business was continued by Egidio alone

Marks progressively use F Primavesi (from 1850), '& Son' (from around 1860) and then by at least 1873 '& Sons'.

There was no set format or style to the marks.

Place locations change but generally include Cardiff & Swansea and later Newport and then London.

Ware is often marked with only a reference to Primavesi but sometime include a manufacturers mark.

F Primavesi & Sons
Cardiff & Swansea

ASHWORTH (impressed mark)

This ware was produced by
G.L. Ashworth & Bros.

F Primavesi & Sons
Cardiff

BODLEY & SON (impressed mark)

This ware was produced by
Bodley & Son

c. 1874-75

F Primavesi & Sons
Swansea

fragment found in Australia on an ancestors old house site from late 1880s

photos courtesy: Faith Roper

'The World' was a series of aesthetic patterns produced by Wallis Gimson & Co. The registration number 7624 shows that the pattern was first registered on May 27, 1884, with production ending sometime prior to the close of the factory in 1890.

Wallis Gimson & Co. produced ware in this pattern for general sale and also for other distributors, merchants as well as Primavesi & Sons

P & B

F Primavesi & Sons
Cardiff, Swansea,
& Newport (Mon)

This ware was produced by
Powell & Bishop

c.1867-78

P B & S

F Primavesi & Sons
Cardiff

This ware was produced by
Powell, Bishop & Stonier

The registration number 2665 shows that the pattern was first registered on 29th Feb 1884

c.1884-91

hand coloured dinner plate in the METZ pattern

METZ is an oriental-inspired pattern featuring pink peonies, trailing blossoms and a butterfly above a low garden fence.
The floral centre is surrounded by a wide border of repeating peony sprays interspersed with Chinese-style geometric diaper panels and key-pattern bands, printed and then hand coloured in soft shades of pink, blue, green and black on an ivory ironstone body.

The origin of the name METZ is unknown.

This ware was retailed by F Primavesi & Sons, it was made by John Meir & Son - the METZ pattern was not exclusively soled through retailers.

John Meir and then John Meir & Son operated from 1812 to 1897 at the Greengates Pottery in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent.

The METZ pattern/design was registered on the 9th November 1870 and some examples of this pattern can be found with a registration diamond.

On this plate there is an impressed 4/79 which is the month/year of manufacture - in this instance April 1879.

photos courtesy: Syed Meraj Ahmed, Hyderabad, India

mark on the back of the plate
the hand painted 2317 is probably a pattern/design number

I M & S
METZ
Ironstone
(printed mark)

F Primavesi & Sons
Cardiff & Swansea

Page History:

Page created: 17 July 2021
Updated: 21 April 2025 - examples of marks expanded.
Last updated: 15 July 2026 - example of J Meir ware in the METZ pattern added.