The Pottery Gazette and Glass Trade Review

March 1, 1926 Page 403-405

John Steventon & Sons, Royal Pottery, Market Place, Burslem, who are well known in the trade as manufacturers of a good medium class earthenware for all domestic purposes, have recently opened new showrooms at Nos 1-3, Union Bank Buildings, Ely Place, London EC1, a situation that is extremely convenient for any buyer who happens to be making calls in the Holborn Circus district. We understand that either Mr H.Leese (who also undertakes the American and Canadian journey once a year) or Mr R.J.Steventon will be regularly in attendance at the new showrooms, which buyers will do well to visit, since quite a number of new and attractive lines are constantly being produced.

During the past few years this firm has come forward very noticeably on the decorative side, and they offer many smart, business pulling lines in dinner, tea, toilet and ornamental wares, which are invariably moderately priced. The firm makes for all markets; they have solid connections in the home trade, for which they cater very directly, but they have developed alongside this home trade a growing connection in the Colonies and in the United States, where their printed and enameled patterns in dinnerware are being steadily called for.

Some years ago the nucleus of a remarkable development on the decorative side of the firm's production was witnessed on the institution of some bright and effective, but quite inexpensive lines in stencilled patterns with aerographed grounds, which we referred to in our pages at the time of their appearance. It is noteworthy that the process of stencilling and aerograph extension has been very considerably developed by the firm ever since, and from simple floral spray outlines, the stage at which the process of stencilling seemed to commence, such progress has been made that there are now to be seen in toiletware such ambitious schemes as a stencilled cockatoo decoration ( as in the No 1439) or an Arabian desert and temple effect ( as seen in the No 1080). Both of the aforementioned patterns can be consulted in our illustration.

In decorations such as these the employment of bright colour is treated courageously, considering the limitations of the process involved. In toiletware there is quite a range of stencilled schemes; but this is not all that is likely to appeal to the buyer in the way of toiletware. In plain prints, enameled patterns, lithos, and shadings the sample range is strong and sure in its appeal to the middle class buyer of pottery.

Another strong line of the house lies in their remarkably varied range of jugs, which can be had from plain white spiral fluted ware up to some very attractive types of decoration. In dinnerware, also, there is a good deal by which the buyer is likely to be attracted. In this department the newest pattern is the "Kato", which has a scale border and a centre in Chinese mandarin style, executed entirely in underglaze colours, a brown edge substituting the liquid gold, of which we seem to be seeing less and less as time goes on. This pattern, which is included in our illustration, is seen to advantage on a recently modelled coverdish, associated with which is a range of octagon shape dishes. Both for home and export markets this pattern is likely to be in good demand as a coloured scheme of decoration; but it can also be had, if cheaper rendering is needed, as a plain print.

Of litho border patterns there are many in the range of this house, and there are always on the warehouse floor quite a big stack of mazarine blue-banded and gilt dinnerware, for which there seems perpetual call. At the present time the firm in question is doing a big trade in seven piece fruit sets, which are available in a number of bright and modern colourings,. We ought to mention that many of the firm's patterns are supplied en suite in a full range of table sunderies.

On the ornamental side, which we have not attempted to deal in our present review, the firm has much to show, and we can recommend buyers to consult the full range of samples for themselves whenever they chance to be in the Holborn Circus district, in the Potteries, or within easy reach of the firm's provincial traveller.