Washington Pottery, Beefeater and Aquarius Designs

How fantastically psychedelic are these plates!

They are from are series of plates called “Beefeater” – There were 6 plates in this series, and there were also 6 round plates, 6 mugs and 6 bowls with the same designs, but much less commonly found.
Recently I found for the first time some of the fabulous bowls and mugs from the series on Etsy – see below. The design would be from the 1960s or early 1970s – it would be great to know the designer but he or she has not been identified.

Similar in style to the Beefeater plates is a series  called “Aquarius” – on the same plate form as Beefeater, and like the Beefeater plates are quite large (Large enough for a whole fish), again with 6 designs in the series.

While the Beefeater ones have a backstamp for the maker as “English Ironstone Pottery Ltd, Staffordshire” the Aquarius plates have “English Ironstone Tableware, by Washington Pottery, Staffordshire”, but both are the same company. ( Washington Pottery changed name to English Ironstone in 1970 ).

There is a very interesting and informative timeline of Washington Potteries on “The Potteries” website HERE .

An interesting claim to fame is the pottery in 1963 was granted a worldwide licence to manufacture memorabilia featuring The Beatles – including souvenir plates, mugs, sugar and milk jugs, egg cups and cereal bowls. 

The Aquarius design series are much harder to find than the Beefeater design, at least here in Australia.

Photos below have attribution beneath the image, if not attributed then they are taken by me…..
Beefeater Plate, Washington Pottery, Staffordshire, Photo from Flickr page of “Beetle2001cybergreen”.

Beefeater Bowls, Washington Pottery Image via “divineinfrance”Etsy

Beefeater Plate Backstamp

Aquarius Plate Backstamp
Beefeater Mugs, Washington Pottery – Image via “BrocanteMitchVintage” on Etsy

Aquarius Plate, Washington Pottery
Aquarius Plate, Washington Pottery
Aquaries Plates, Washington Pottery
Image via “divineinfrance”Etsy