Shelley China Reference

Backstamps

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the many members of the NSCC as well as members of the Australasian Shelley Collectors Club who provided the information included in this section.

Backstamps of the Wileman and Shelley Potteries, Staffordshire

Here is a small selection of recorded backstamps for the various Shelley and Wileman chinas, potteries, and other wares. This section will be updated soon with more backstamps and information!

1856 Henry Wileman became sole proprietor of the Foley Potteries, first established in the 1820s. He added the Foley China Works alongside, to make bone china items.
1870 James F. Wileman (Henry's son) became sole proprietor of the Foley Potteries and the Foley China Works.
1872 James Wileman and Joseph Shelley became partners in the Foley China Works, trading as Wileman and Company.
The Foley Potteries continued seperately under James Wileman until its sale in 1892.
1884 James retired from the china works, which became a Shelley family business.
1894 Wileman & Co. erected a new earthenware works and commenced production of a range of ornamental earthenware.
1910 Wileman & Co.'s trade name was changed from Foley China to Shelley China. The Shelley backstamp was introduced.
1925 The Company name was changed from Wileman and Co. to Shelley Potteries.
1940 Earthenware production ceased during World War 2 and never restarted.
1966 The Company was sold and production of Shelley china ceased.

J.F. Wileman Backstamps

Circa 1870 - 1892

Mainly found on transfer-decorated earthenware, some items with additional hand colouring. Some early pattern registration dates: Sexagon 3 Nov 1871; Flower Sprays 2 July 1879; Swallow 23 April 1881; Wildflowers 23 Dec 1882.

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Wileman and Company Backstamps

Circa 1870 - 1910

Dates of Wileman patterns are only recorded from 1882 onwards. The dates shown here below the backstamps are for dated pattern numbers or registration numbers. Wileman and Co. backstamps were initially used only on china. After 1894 they were also used on earthenware.

View these backstamps (IMAGE SIZE: ~ 84 KB)

Wileman & Shelley Crested Miniatures Backstamps

1890's to 1920's

In addition to backstamps, miniatures usually carry model numbers and, sometimes, item descriptions. For detailed information about miniatures refer to the Australasian Shelley Collectors Club publication: Shelley/Wileman China Crested Miniatures.

View these backstamps (IMAGE SIZE: ~ 40 KB)

Shelley Potteries Backstamps

1910 - 1966

1910 to 1916
Used on earthenware, some with pattern names incorporated, as on right. Left stamp also used on some china decorated with earthenware patterns and Wileman patterns.
1916 to 1925
Used on china and earthenware.
1913 to 1926
Used on china. The left stamp appears on a number of items carrying Wileman patterns.
1925 to 1945
Used on china and earthenware. May also incorporate a pattern name.
1930 to 1932
Used on china.
1936 to 1937
Used on commemorative ware.
1945 to 1966
May incorporate a pattern name.
1950's & 1960's
Used on china miniatures.
Walter Slater signature.
Art Director 1905 to 1937. On special lustre ware.

Shared or Cooperative

During European wars, Shelley cooperated with Grovenor China due to shortages and produced several patterns with the combined backstamp on them.
The Castle backstamp (3 versions shown) was used on a few patterns and most if not all Bryta nurseryware. It's not known if Castle was a cooperative effort or owned by Shelley or part of Shelley with the Castle stamps done mostly for the US market.
The Litchfield stamp was used for a very few patterns, #14117, "Grey Mist" as shown, and #13922 "Columbine" and for a small amount of the production of each. There may be o ther patterns as well. This was perhaps a special request for some event in Litchfield around 1961.
Nairobi is a stamp done beside the Shelley stamp only on Mocha or Gainsborough shape china which was ordered by a dealer in Kenya.
The Anchor stamp when it appears beside the Shelley shield, represents a cooperative effort by Shelley and Anchor China to satisfy a large spiral shaped china order by the Admiralty presumably for Naval vessels. Seen on demitasse a tea size spiral shape china cups and saucers.
The Peacock overstamp is an attempt by Peacock china to hide the original Shelley shield. Peacock must have ordered a quantity of Shelley white ware and decorated it for their customers. Example of an uncooperative use.

National Shelley China Club