Carlton Ware (England) ginger jars

Ginger jars are traditional ceramic vessels that have been used for centuries in both Chinese and Western cultures. The term "ginger jar" is used to describe a wide variety of ceramic containers that are used for storing food, spices, and other items.

Chinese ginger jars are typically made of porcelain and are characterised by their cylindrical shape and distinctive lid. They have a long history in Chinese culture, and have been used for centuries for both practical and decorative purposes. Chinese ginger jars often feature intricate designs and decorations, including floral patterns, landscapes, and scenes from Chinese mythology. They were more... traditionally used for storing spices, tea, and other foodstuffs, but were also valued as works of art.

Western ginger jars, on the other hand, are typically made of earthenware or ceramics and are not as ornately decorated as their Chinese counterparts. They were popular in Europe and America during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were often used for storing sugar, ginger, and other spices. Western ginger jars are typically more functional in design and do not feature the same level of intricate decoration as Chinese ginger jars.

In recent years, both Chinese and Western ginger jars have become popular decorative items in homes around the world. They are valued for their unique shape and intricate designs and are often used as accent pieces in living rooms, bedrooms, and other spaces. Whether used for their intended purpose or as decorative items, ginger jars continue to be a popular and beloved part of both Chinese and Western cultures. less...

The Carlton Ware works were set up about 1890 by James Frederick Wiltshaw, James Alcock Robinson & William Herbert Robinson in Stoke-on-Trent, and Carlton Ware was adopted as a trade name in 1894.

About 1890 the company introduced its "Blush Ware" range, with floral designs on delicate pastel coloured backgrounds, sometimes with gilded additions.

In 1911 the partnership was dissolved and James Frederick Wiltshaw became the sole proprietor.

During the 1920s, the company became known for its Art Deco lustre wares, which command high prices today.

Many of the patterns were of imaginative geometric and stylised floral designs, more... some using Egyptian and oriental influences, such as the highly collectable ‘Tutenkahmen’ and ‘Mikado’ ranges.

The "Handcraft" range introduced in 1928 offered modern freehand painted designs with matt glazes which distinguished them from other manufacturers of the time using similar designs.

Other later collectable areas of Carlton Ware are the high-lustre table ware in the "Royale" brand, including Bleu Royale and Rouge Royale introduced in 1949 and continuing through to the early 1970s, advertising wares, particularly those displaying the Guinness name, and the Walking Ware range of the 1970s, which was the company's last great success.

In 1966, following the death of Cuthbert Wiltshaw, the company was sold to Arthur Wood & Sons and continued to trade until it developed serious financial difficulties in the late 1980s, forcing it into receivership in 1989, resulting in it finally closing in 1992.

In 1997 the company's intellectual property and moulds were purchased by FJ Publications, which now produces objects for the collector's market. less...