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Researching Shelley - Backstamps

(Updated 15/02/22)


This page shows many of the known backstamps which were used by the Wileman family potteries, Wileman & Company and Shelley Potteries. The main exceptions being those used by James F. Wileman for named patterns each with a specific backstamp. James F. Wileman was responsible for both China and Earthenware Factories between 1864 and 1884.


(A) Elkin Knight & Co Proprietors - 1822-1826

(B) Elkin Knight & Bridgewood Proprietors - 1826-1835

(C) Knight Elkin & Co Proprietors - 1835-1845

(D) John King Knight Proprietor - 1845-1852

(E) John King Knight & Henry Wileman Proprietors - 1852-1856

[ E01 ]
[ E02 ]
Knight & Wileman 01
Knight & Wileman 02
1852-1856
1852-1856


(F) Henry Wileman Proprietor - 1856-1864

[ F01 ]
[ F02 ]
   
Henry Wileman_01
Henry Wileman on Etruscan
   
1856-1864
1856-1864
   
H.W. on "Etruscan"
   

Very few examples are known of these early backstamps.  The ones shown were found  on blue transfer ware items with the "Willow Pattern" and "Etruscan" patterns.


(G) James and Charles Wileman Proprietors - 1864-1866

[ G01 ]
[ G02 ]
[ G03 ]
[ G04 ]* See note
 
James & Charles Wileman on Asiatic Pheasants
James & Charles Wileman on Leaf
James & Charles Wileman on Indian Stone
W on Indian Stone backstamp
 
1864-1866
1864-1866
1864-1866
 
J.& C.W. on "Asiatic Pheasants"
J.& C.W. on "Leaf"
J.& C.W. on "Indian Stone"
W. on "Indian Stone" *
 

*Note: G04 - There has only been one piece seen that has this backstamp. It is similar to G03 but without the additional colour. The initial W at the base may have been used by Henry Wileman when he was sole proprietor of the company or by James Wileman before or after his partnership with Charles. There are no records for this period so a precise answer is not possible.

(H) Earthenware Backstamps: James F. Wileman Proprietor - 1866 - 1892

The "Richelieu" backstamp is unique to items of that shape. There are at least 55 named patterns, including J F Wileman versions of the "Asiatic Pheasants" and "Leaf" shown above, each with its own backstamp. No doubt there are many others which have not yet been documented. A very small selection is shown below.

[ H01 ]
[ H02 ]
[ H03 ]
[ H04 ]
[ H05 ]
[ H06 ]
JFW_Richelieu Shape
JFW_Albert
JFW_Cashmere
JFW_Foley
JFW_Seasons
JFW_Stag
1886 - 1892
1886 - 1892
1886 - 1892
1886 - 1892
1886 - 1892
1886 - 1892
James F. Wileman on "Richelieu" shape
J.F. Wileman on "Albert" pattern
J.F. Wileman on "Cashmere" pattern
J.F. Wileman on "Foley" pattern
J.F.Wileman on
"Seasons" pattern
J.F.Wileman on
"Stag" pattern


(J) China Backstamps: Wileman and Co. - 1872-1910

[ J01 ]
[ J02 ]
[ J03 ]
[ J04 ]
[ J05 ]
[ J06 ]
Wileman & C0 1872_1884
Wileman & Co England_1872_1884
Wilema & Co 1883_1884
Wileman & C0_1884_1893
Wileman & Co 1889 G&M
Wileman & Co 1890 -
1884 - c.1895
c.1891 - c.1895
1883 - 1884
1884 - c.1895
1884 - c.1895
c.1881 - c.1895
           
           
[ J07 ]
[ J08 ]
       
Wileman & Co Foley China
Wileman 1890
       
c.1881 - c.1895
c.1895 - 1910
       


(K) Earthenware Backstamps: Wileman and Co. - 1894 - 1910

[ K01 ]
[ K02 ]
[ K02A ]
[ K03 ]
[ K04 ]
[ K05 ]
Wileman & Co Faience
Wileman & Co Faience Old Chelsea
Old Chelsea Style
Wileman & Co Intarsio
Wileman & Co Pastello
Wileman & Co Faience
           
[ K06 ]
[ K07 ]
[ K08 ]
[ K09 ]* See note
Wileman & Co Faience
K07
K08_Wileman_The Foley England
Spano-Lustra

 


*Note: - K09 - Found on Wileman "Arts and Crafts" Earthenware items in the number range 10001 - 10036+. Unlike P09, which was applied separately, this stamp is fully integrated and applied in one hit.


(L) Earthenware Backstamps: Shelley - 1910-1940

[ L01 ]
[ L02 ]
[ L03 ]
[ L04 ]
[ L05 ]
[ L06 ]
Shelley 1910-1916
Shelley 1910-1916
Shelley 1916-25 backstamp
Shelley 1916-1925
Shelley 1925-45
Shelley 1925-45
1910 - 1916
1910 - 1916
1916 - 1925
1916 - 1925
1925 - 1945
1929 - 1930s
Also used on china
 
Also used on china
 
Also used on china
on earthenware
         
tableware items


(M) China Backstamps: Shelley - 1910-1966

[ L01 ]
[ M01 ]
[ M02 ]
[ M03 ]
[ L03 ]
[ L05 ]
Shelley 1910-1916
Shelley 1913-1926
Shelley 1913-1926
Miniatures
Shelley 1916-1925 backstamp
Shelley 1925-45
1910 - 1916
1913 - 1926
1913 - 1926
1928 -
1916 - 1925
1925 - 1945
Also used on earthenware
   
Used on miniatures
Also used on earthenware
Also used on earthenware
           
           
[ M04 ]
[ M05 ]
[ M06 ]
   
Shelley 1930-1932
Shelley 1938-1966
Shelley 1936-1937 Commemoratives
   
1930 - 1932
1938 - 1966
1936 - 1937
   
Commemorative ware
   


(N) Crested Miniatures Backstamps: Wileman and Shelley -1890's - 1920's

[ N01 ]
[ N02 ]
[ N03 ]
[ L01 ]
[ N04 ]
[ N05 ]
Crested Miniatures 01
Crested Miniatures 02
Crested Miniatures 03
Crested Miniatures 04
Crested Miniatures 05
Crested Miniatures 06
Before 1910
Before 1910
Before 1910
After 1910
After 1910
After 1910
Also seen on Teaware
           
[ N06 ]
[ N07 ]
Miniature Dainty cup and saucer
Crested Miniatures N07_IVORY
After 1950
Before 1910
Used on Miniature Dainty Cup & Saucer
         


(P) Special Stamps

[ P01 ]
[ P02 ]
[ P03 ]
[ P04 ]
[ P05 ]
[ P06 ]
Old Sevres
Special Stamp
Walter Slater Signature
Slater Lustre Ware
Designed by Veronica
Ideal China
1915
1920 - 1922
 
1920s
1930s
After 1937
Old Sevres
Advertising and Catalogues
Walter Slater Lustreware
Walter Slater Lustreware
Items designed by Veronica Ball
Found on some Ideal China items
           
           
[ P07 ]
[ P08 ]* See note
[ P09 ]* See note
[ P10 ]* See note
[ P11 ]* See note
 
Shelley & Grosvenor - 1941
Cloisello
Spano Lustra Iridescent Glaze
P10_Shelley Cloisello
P11_Lichfield
 
1941 - 1945
         
Shelley and Grosvenor
Cloisello
Spano Lustre Iridescent Glaze
Cloisello Ware
Lichfield
 

Notes:
P08 - Separate stamp found in conjunction with K03 with INTARSIO struck out. (See 'History/ Products Earthenware' page). Later used with L03 on some earthenware items.
P09 - Separate stamp found only with J08 and K08.
P10 - Separate stamp, used in conjunction with L03 on Blue Cloisello Wares.
P11 - The Lichfield back-stamp was used on eight pattern numbers in 1961, after an agreement between Shelley and a company called Canadian Cookware. The Lichfield back-stamp was placed over the Shelley backstamp



Other Marks

There are other marks that you may find on the bottom of Shelley and Wileman china and earthenware :

Second ware - Pieces marked with a number two in a circle are second ware pieces. These items were thought not to be up to Shelley's high standard and were then decorated with a second ware pattern.

Paintresses marks - Various dots and squiggles were used to identify the paintress of a particular piece. These marks were used to calculate the wages of individual paintresses who were paid on a piece work basis.