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Crown Staffordshire porcelain acquired its name in 1897 as the successor name to what began in 1833 as Thomas Green bone china at Minerva China Works, Park Street, Fenton in England. Green's father also had been known as a maker of pottery as far back as 1790. Keeping the business in the family, Thomas Green the younger employed his wife and four sons at Minerva Works until his death in 1859.
His widow, Margaret, and four sons then ran the business for the ensuing 17 years. The business was so successful that the family were able to purchase the previously-leased manufactory and also establish retail outlets in London. To view Crown Staffordshire porcelain marks, click here.
The 1897 inauguration of the Crown Staffordshire Porcelain appellation found the factory producing bone china dinnerware including Staffordshire Blue and White, figural items, door hardware, and eventually china costume jewelry, employing as many as 200 craftsmen.
The Green family remained connected with Crown Staffordshire until the mid 1960's, when the company became part of Wedgwood. But this was not before the company had expanded internationally to The United States and Canada, supplying such diverse products as Pan yellow-glazed tableware, and even porcelain fighting badges for combatants in two world wars. The Crown Staffordshire mark ceased being used in 1985. (More.)
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