APOLOGIES:
 

I've learned a great deal about the diverse forms of RSW Jacobean in my lifetime of collecting it, but confess that I am woefully lacking in knowledge in two particular areas:

1. the correct name of every flower used in decorating

2. the correct name for each pottery shape (and there are many!)

Please forgive my presumption in proposing to educate you about RSWJ --- when I am far from knowledgeable in these areas.
I wholeheartedly welcome your feedback in identifying anything that I have misidentified. Sometimes the Colonies deviate from the Mother Land in vocabulary!

Just the FAQs / basic concepts for the RSWJ collector
 

IT'S NOT JUST A VASE!

Having met mostly vase-type pieces of RSWJ in my early collecting days (long before the WW Web brought the world to my doorstep), I cannot describe the elation I felt when I noticed a set of 4 RSWJ tea cups and saucers in a Toronto Harbourfront antique shop window in the 1980s.

If there were teacups, there had to be teapots, didn't there? That discovery indicated that RSWJ were not solely decorative, but had utilitarian context as well. And the rest is history---prompting my assertion that "poor man's Moorcroft" made a poor woman out of me!

It was a long time till I came upon my first teapot, but you can see I did, along with other teatime essentials. I've never seen another cup and saucer, though.

IT'S NOT ALL CLEMATIS!

Authentic pattern names are rare. I am aware of only THREE: VINE ,ROSA and TWILOCK.  I've devised some descriptive titles over the years, and those, along with the pattern number painted on the base of most of the pieces, are my reference points in sharing the images on this site.

IT'S BLUE NOT BLACK!

The majority of pieces are of terra cotta / earthenware, hand painted with a glorious palette of glazes on a VERY deep cobalt blue ground, often mistaken for black. I have never seen RSWJ with a black (back)ground, though pieces with rose, gold, brown, aqua, pale yellow, and white backgrounds are found in my collection.

IT'S NOT MOORCROFT!

Colclough & Co. and Moorcroft were neighbours in the Staffordshire "Potteries", at the same time; some of their wares were similar but not the same. Moorcroft is still producing its expensive wares; Colclough & Co. stopped production of Stanley Ware in 1928. The respective clay used by each pottery is different, but the motifs and palettes are similar.  The quality of the glazes differs, but the quality of the design and decoration are similar. Promoted as "poor man's Moorcroft" in its day, you'll see that comparison still used today by some in describing RSWJ. I disagree.

Like Moorcroft, Colclough/Stanley did produce stunning tube-lined pieces, early in the 20th century. Though their art pottery production period(1903 to 1928) was very short for Stanley, their line reflected Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts and Art Deco influences as well as a need to compete commercially.  I believe some of the same designers worked for other companies in the Potteries, and have some pieces to illustrate that. Forensic project for the future!
 

IT'S NOT FOUND ONLY IN BRITAIN!

When the online world / eBay stepped through my front door, it brought me Stanley from each of the British Isles, France, Australia, New Zealand, many American states and territories and most Canadian provinces.  My family visits to Ottawa, Toronto and Kingston weren't complete without rooting out some Stanley.  My sincere thanks to those sellers who shared their Stanley treasures and relevant information with me. I have met some very interesting folks in my pursuit of the handsome Stan. This collection would not exist without you!

IT MIGHT NOT BE STANLEY!

Other English pottery appears to be a Stanley clone: DECORO, a similar palette but different motifs; FORRESTER "               " WARE, and collection item #136  (stamped PHOENIX WARE) which differs only in the shape of the jug & a somewhat looser decorative hand. It is otherwise an identical match.  I pride myself on my ability to sniff out Stanley Ware in countless hidden places, but that one fooled me! The gorgeous tube-lined small jug #221 appears to be 100% RSWJ but has no markings to prove that.  It was sold to me by a Charlotte Rhead collector who insisted it was real Rhead. I argued as adamantly that it is RSWJ.