George Jones & Sons Platters and Serveware

Pair of late 19th century brown transferware ceramic serving platters. One oval platter by George Jones & Sons in the Almonds pattern, showing a pair of birds perched on flowering almond branches. And one round platter by Alfred Meakin in Medway Decor, showing flowering branches and butterflies with multi-colored details. "George Jones & Sons Ltd - Manufacturer of earthenware, majolica and china ware at Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent. At the age of 14 George Jones started a seven year apprenticeship with Minton. After completion in 1844 he worked as a traveling salesman for Wedgwood. By 1850 George had established himself as a successful pottery merchant and by 1856 he had opened a pottery showroom in Glebe Street, Stoke. George started manufacturing around 1861 at the Bridge Works, Stoke, as George Jones & Co. In 1864 he purchased land from Colin Minton Campbell and in 1865 the company moved to the newly built factory - the Trent Potteries. Production of majolica ware started in 1865. From 1872 china production was started. By 1873 the two eldest sons, Frank Ralph Jones and George Henry Jones became partners in the business which was renamed George Jones & Sons. 'Crescent' was registered as a trademark for the new company. In 1894 the business was incorporated as George Jones and Sons Ltd. George Jones died in 1893 - the business continued under the name 'George Jones & Sons'. Around 1907 the works were renamed 'Crescent Potteries.' From the 1920s Cauldon Potteries Ltd. and Coalport China Co. Ltd. had moved their manufacturing to the Crescent Potteries and were sharing the works with George Jones & Sons Ltd. In 1929 the Jones family ownership ended when Walter Bakewell (who was the managing director) bought the business. In 1933 Harrison & Son (Hanley) Ltd bought out Bakewell's controlling shareholding. c.1947 there was some modernisation of the Crescent Works. Manufacture of Coalport and Cauldon was favoured. Use of the Crescent China...