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Stoke-on-Trent City Council: Paragon China
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Paragon China

Paragon bone china teapot.
Key dates
  • 1899 - 1919  Star China Co. - adopted Paragon trade name c.1900
  • 1919 - 1960  Paragon China Co. Ltd.
  • 1960 - 1964  Owned by T.C. Wild but retained trade name Paragon
  • 1964  T.C. Wild merged with Lawley Group to form Allied English Potteries Ltd.
  • 1968  Became part of Royal Doulton Group
  • 1989  Paragon name taken over by Royal Albert
Locations
  • 1899 - 1987   Atlas Works, Longton
  • 1966 -  Albert Works, Longton
Description

Paragon China began as the Star China Co., owned by Herbert Aynsley. The name Paragon was adopted as a trade mark in around 1900 and the company formally became known as Paragon China Ltd. in 1919. The name was selected deliberately to allude to excellence and quality of product. Herbert Aynsley retired in 1927and ownership of the business passed to Hugh Irving and his sons Leslie and Guy.

The company manufactured bone china wares and during the inter-war period established a reputation for producing high quality tea and table wares. Nursery and toy wares were also a speciality having been part of the Star China product line since 1904. In the early 20s new forms of decoration were used including gold printed patterns.

In the early 1930s new conical shapes with stepped ribs (Duchess shape) in the art deco style were produced to compete with companies such as Shelley and Aynsley. The export market was important to Paragon selling predominantly to Canada, USA, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The company continued to produced during the second World War. By 1946 they had increased their range of products to include animal figures, breakfast sets, ashtrays, and eggcups.

Paragon were fortunate enough to receive continued royal patronage, initially from the Duchess of York in 1926.

Some of their notable achievements include:

1926 Duchess of York commissioned china for the nursery of Princess Elizabeth (the company also produced a commemorative mug to celebrate the birth of the Princess)

1930 Duchess of York commissioned a tea service to mark the birth of Princess Margaret Rose

1933 Company granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment by Queen Mary

1938 Company granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

1953 Company granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment by Queen Elizabeth II

Although Paragon were taken over in 1960 by T.C. Wild & Sons, and later by the Doulton Group, the Paragon name was retained as a separate identity, having strong marketing potential. Latterly traditional floral patterns were the mainstay of the product range with Royal commemoratives being produced and eagerly sought after.

Designers for the company included Ceri Clayton, Agnes Pinder Davis, Reginald Johnson and J A Robinson.

Spours' book on tablewares reports that Paragon pattern books are not available, presumed lost. Some information on the later patterns is contained in a separate pattern information sheet.

Collections Details

1984.P.1015   Dinner plate. Olympus pattern. c.1980

1985.P.110    Teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl, cups and saucers.  Floral pattern.  Vertical fluting.  1930s

1987.P.536    Trio.  Floral pattern.  1930s

1987.P.546    Trio.  Water lilies.  1930s

1987.P.577    Loving cup.  To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.  1978

1987.P.447    Cup and saucer. All over gold floral decoration. Designed by Reginald Johnson. For sale in Canada as gift items, not as a tea set.

1933.C.2       Loving cup.  To commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.  1953

1933.C.3       Loving cup.  To commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.  Limited edition no.549.  1953. 

Further reading

Atterbury, P. et. al. Twentieth-century ceramics, Octopus Publishing Group, 1999, 1840000341.

Batkin, M. Gifts for good children : the history of children's china pt.2 1890-1990, Richard Dennis, 0903685302.

Spours, J. Art Deco tableware : British domestic ceramics 1925-1939, Ward Lock, 1988, 0706365798.

Classical Corinth in  Pottery Gazette and Glass Trades Review incorporating Tableware, May 1970, p.32-33.

Model of excellence  in  Pottery and Glass, December 1956,  p.414-5.

June 2001