Pilkington: Lancastrian Lustre & Art Pottery from Manchester
Pilkington's Tile and Pottery Company was established in 1891 near Manchester, England, initially to produce architectural tiles. Under the direction of chemist William Burton and later his brother Joseph, the company developed its renowned Royal Lancastrian lustre pottery from 1903 onward. Pilkington's lustre glazes -- rich ruby reds, golden oranges, and iridescent metallic finishes -- were among the finest produced in England, rivaling the lustre work of De Morgan. The pottery employed notable artists including Walter Crane, Lewis Day, Richard Joyce, Gordon Forsyth, and Charles Cundall, whose designs elevated Pilkington's from a tile manufacturer to a producer of world-class art pottery.
Identification & Marks
- Impressed "P" and bee mark: The standard Pilkington mark; a capital "P" with a small bee symbol
- "Royal Lancastrian" mark: Used after receiving the Royal warrant in 1913
- Artist ciphers: Each decorator had a unique cipher impressed or painted on the base
- Date letters: A letter system indicating year of production
- Richard Joyce: Possibly the most collected Pilkington artist; his mark is a distinctive "RJ" cipher
- Shape numbers: Impressed numbers correspond to specific forms in the factory catalog
Types & Styles
- Lustre pottery: The most collected line; metallic lustre glazes in ruby, gold, orange, silver, and iridescent effects applied over painted or incised designs
- Architectural tiles: Decorative tiles in various techniques including tube-lining, slip trailing, and lustre
- Matte-glaze pottery: Vases, bowls, and ornamental pieces in rich matte colors without lustre
- Lapis Ware: A later line (1928 onward) using mottled and streaked glaze effects
- Painted decoration: Under-lustre painting featuring heraldic devices, animals, ships, mythological scenes, and floral designs
Auction Price Ranges
| Item | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lapis Ware vase | $40 | $120 | $350 |
| Matte-glaze vase (unmarked) | $50 | $150 | $400 |
| Lustre vase (simple) | $100 | $350 | $1,000 |
| Lustre vase (artist decorated) | $300 | $1,000 | $4,000 |
| Lustre vase (Joyce, exceptional) | $1,000 | $3,000 | $10,000+ |
| Architectural tile panel | $200 | $600 | $2,500 |
| Walter Crane design piece | $500 | $2,000 | $8,000 |
Condition Factors
- Lustre surfaces are delicate; scratches, rubbing, and wear significantly reduce the visual impact and value
- Chips on lustre pieces are particularly damaging because they disrupt the continuous glaze surface
- Architectural tiles must be free of cracks and chips; glaze crazing is less problematic on tiles than on pottery
- Original lustre should show a warm, rich iridescence; faded or worn lustre reduces value by 40-60%
- Artist-decorated pieces must have intact painted decoration beneath the lustre
Collecting Tips
- Richard Joyce lustre pieces are the blue-chip investment in Pilkington collecting; his heraldic and figural designs are exceptional
- Lustre quality varies enormously; the richest, most iridescent glazes command the highest premiums regardless of artist
- Lapis Ware offers an affordable entry point into Pilkington collecting
- The factory's tile production is a separate collecting area with strong demand from architectural salvage and Arts and Crafts enthusiasts
- Pilkington pieces appear regularly at English provincial auction houses and specialist ceramics sales
- The factory's later production (post-1938) is less collected; most interest centers on the 1903-1938 lustre period