Hostess Tableware Staffordshire Designs by John Russell
These designs are stunning. British design at its best. They were all created by top British ceramics designer John Russell c1970s for a company called Hostess Tableware Staffordshire.
He designed a number of patterns for this company, but these are the standouts I think.
The company was formed by the merger of Royal Stafford China and British Anchor Pottery c 1970, which as far as I can discover, closed in the 1990s.
John Russell is primarily known for his designs at Midwinter Pottery, where he created Midwinter “Riverside”and numerous other Midwinter designs in the 1960s. These however are far much more impressive, bold, clean and resolved designs to me, than any of his Midwinter designs.
Black Velvet Design – John Russell
Black Velvet Coffee Set – John Russell – Photo from “H is for Home” on Flickr
Tuscan Fine China was founded 1878 Staffordshire, England by R. H. Plant. The Plant family were important potters back as far as 1775. They were a strong family business, well run by generations of family members, until 1967 when they were taken over by Wedgwood, who added the name “Royal” as a prefix.
Research and product development was very important to them like other successful English Potteries such as Denby.
There were 2 major technical developments at Tuscan in the 20th Century. First was the discovery of a very fine body suitable for hotel ware named ‘Metallised Hotel China’. This ware was very tough and fracture-resistant (discovered by technician and Art Director J. B. Clarke). There was also a china body with a faint pink shade which they called ‘Peach Bloom’.
Tuscan Fine China Pastels
What I love about Tuscan China is their outstanding use of colour and also pattern over the decades – especially the use of Pastel colours in the photograph above of a design probably from the 1950s. The quality of Tuscan bone china is also as good as it gets – it is very hard, fine bone china which holds the glazes and decoration beautifully.
Below is one of the highest sellers and most popular designs by Tuscan in the 1950s. Commonly known as “Du Barry Rose” or “Sunshine 001”. Still very popular amongst collectors. The pale pink base glaze is such a soft and luxurious pink – and not harsh at all link many pink glazes can be. Many couples received this set as a wedding gift in the 1950s.
Tuscan Fine China, Du Barry Rose
The yellow poppy design below is one of the most beautiful and delicate Tuscan designs I have come across, it also comes in a green variation.
Tuscan Fine China, Yellow PoppyTuscan Fine China, Yellow Poppy
Below: Another fantastic poppy design by Tuscan. The design and shapes here indicate it would have been from around the 1930s Art Deco era.
Tuscan Fine China, Art Deco Design
It is difficult to find the names of these designs, often they just have a number on the base. Also there were over 30,000 designs produced during the company’s lifetime.
You may be able to find the name of a design by looking through sites such as replacements.com
If anyone knows of books or other resources with the pattern names for Tuscan Fine China I would love to know. The only publication I have found to date is on this website:
OR If Etsy is unavailable, or you would prefer eBay - follow the link below (click on the image) . Basically the same items are listed, at the same price.
