BACKGROUND:
Johnson Brothers began their pottery in 1883 and became one of the major high quality works in England, eventually (in 1968) becoming part of the Wedgwood Group of companies.
The second world war had just been "finished with" and people were looking for things to make them feel good, brighten up their lives after all the trauma fighting with the "Huns" (a carry over expression from the Brit description of the "foe" in World War I)
DLAT RATING: 9/10 (Darling, Look At This!)
JOHNSON BROTHERS - Plates Tableware ONLY
Made In England
Two different diameter plates are offered, these being 6.25" & 7"
The smaller plate is suitable for use as a teaset "side plate" or the slightly larger plate, as a bread n butter or small dinner plate
Old English series
The design comprises two grouping of garden flowers repeated on each side of the plate, banded with Blue, fluted outer edges to the scalloped rim and finished with Gold gilding. This design was also produced with Emerald Green banding but we have none of those plates left.
The design or pattern name is not indicated on the plates
Hand decorated painting along with the gilder's work, their marks are on the underside of the plates.
Circa 1945 ~ 1952
The production period is easily determined by the BY printed just below the backstamps on the underside - this was a coding used by Johnson Bros. during the "Wartime Concentration" period when the British Government placed heavy restrictions upon homewares manufacturers due to the focus on the War effort.
Gold gilding (heavily applied by hand) is around the scalloped edges on each plate
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
Green stamp with artist and gilder's markings
COSMETIC CONDITION:
NO cracks
NO chips
NO significant central area knife scratching on any plate
NO base ceramic or decorative discolouration
NO crazing observed (both wet and dry tests) - quite amazing in my opinion, crazing is quite common after all these years of use. This indicates that these plates did not see a lot of use over the last 75+ years
NO artwork damage/scratching or significant wear
Gold gilding is in spectacular condition, no spotting, no handling wear and the Gold shines bright to this day!
But nothing that is over 75 years old is perfect! In addition to many items from this era exhibiting crazing (which is not the case with these plates), fleabites are often found.
Each plate has just one small fleabite to the underside, the result of handling and cleaning over the years. None of these fleabites are discoloured at all (no bacteria has gotten under the glaze) and these fleabites are in fact difficult to spot or feel with the finger.
Very nice examples of some "better" tableware from the WWII period, way back around 75 years ago
