Carlton Ware

Items

Well, this is where it all started. One of us (the senior Hariet) collected a foxglove jug and saucer in a thrift shop in the Townsville area. It was badly stained. However, she caught the collecting bug and we have some 100 pieces of Carlton Ware (CW) now. One thing we have noticed while collecting CW is that, compared with the UK, the Australian material is often badly stained. Is this because of our hot climate and hard water?  We are not sure  – but it is very disappointing to come across this time and time again. So while collecting in the UK in 2022 we were thrilled to pick up so many pieces in good nick and to bring them to you in our store.  We will be uploading more items to these shelves shortly. Get in touch if you are looking for a special piece.

Did you know… that the “Australian Design” on the back stamp of so many of the salad wear pieces of CW has nought to do with a bespoke collection for Australia and everything to do with protecting copyright? In the 1930s good quality copies of Carlton Ware were being made in Asia and their cheaper prices were of concern to the owner of Carlton Ware, Frederick Cuthbert Wiltshaw. Prices for the imitations were much lower than the originals they copied, which caused much concern. However, the wiley Cuthbert discovered a clause in the South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) between Australia and Japan where designs registered in Australia could not be copied by the Japanese. Cuthbert quickly took advantage of this by registering a large number of patterns in Australia. This explains the Registered Australian Design backstamp on many Carlton Ware patterns. Interestingly, the fakes are also highly collectible.

See this blog for a write-up about fakes http://www.carltonwareworld.com/ebaywatch-other-fakes.htm