Backstamps Although backstamps are regarded as a reliable guide to dating ceramics, it has to be borne in mind that there was a certain amount of overlapping datewise. Manufacturers did not realise that their goods would one day become sought after and that collectors would want to know exactly when an item was made. Workers would often use whatever backstamp was to hand. One therefore finds anomalies. For example, an early Grimwade Brothers backstamp was still being used on their ware and in their advertising as late as 1917, despite the fact that the company had changed its name to Grimwades Ltd in 1900. The study of contemporary catalogues and trade papers sometimes gives a clue as to when a pattern, design or range of ware was produced - but there is never any mention of how long a range remained in production. Musical jugs, for example, were known to have been made prior to World War II, and were mentioned in 77ie Pottery Gazette in 1937. However, a jug mentioned in the same trade paper in 1938 has been found with a backstamp dating from the 1950s. In addition, The Pottery Gazette Year Book for 1948 shows the typical round Art deco mark for Royal Winton (Backstamp 6) but also shows the globe mark with a Grimwades strap (Backstamp 1) It was originally thought that the prefix Royal was added to the Winton trade name in the 1930s. However, research has shown that Royal Winton ware was being made as early as 1897 (See chapter on Products). The name was again used briefly in 1917/18, and revived in about 1929, when Grimwades introduced their new Royal Winton Ivory. In 1942, as a result of World War II, potteries were divided into various categories and were designated a letter of the alphabet (A, B and C) with which to mark their wares, with the letters BY, CY and CZ being introduced in 1945. The letter had to be stamped indelibly under the glaze and the ruling was in force for quite a few years after the end of the war. Grimwades were given the letter VA' and this can be found with both the Art Deco style and Script backstamps. It is often incorporated into the backstamp and can vary in size. There are other marks of importance to be found on the base of Royal Winton pottery. Pattern numbers, usually consisting of four-figure numbers, were hand painted, making them difficult to decipher at times. Pattern names were sometimes transfer printed near the backstamp. Any name impressed in the base is the shape name and not the pattern name, the exception being some of the pastel patterns which used the same name for both categories.
137