It started innocently back in 1990 around Christmas time. I was shopping and stopped to admire a pair of pretty Christmas mugs on display, Old Country Roses Christmas Magic by Royal Albert when I was approached by a salesman. He asked me if I would like to take them home, and I said, "Yes, can I buy just one?" I was a single mom at the time.
He looked at me and asked, "Why don't you buy the pair? You never know what the future brings."
So I bought the pair.
Five years later I remarried and have since enjoyed sipping coffee, tea, or sometimes hot cocoa from the mugs every Christmas season with my wonderful husband, and I reminisce what that salesman said to me every time we use them.
Then it began. A year ago I thought, wouldn't it be nice to have two dessert plates that match the mugs? We could have a sweet nosh on them with our coffee. The rest is history. I now have four, five-piece place settings in the lovely Royal Albert, Old Country Roses pattern. I bought them piece by piece on ebay, and all were made in England. The dinner and bread plates (or pie plates as they are sometimes referred to) were manufactured from 1962 to 1973 and are considered the most valuable. The teacups, saucers, and salad plates were manufactured between 1993 and 2002 and are also desirable. These dates are determined by the back stamp or maker's mark.* When I touch these pieces I can feel their history.
The pattern was launched in 1962 and was designed by Royal Albert's Art Director, Harold Holdcroft. His inspiration for Old Country Roses was based on the 1921 Royal Albert pattern, King's Ransom.* I found a teacup and saucer in the King's Ransom pattern to round out my collection. King's Ransom is the true beginning of Old Country Roses' sixty-year journey.
The Inspiration: Royal Albert, King's Ransom
The original factory was founded by Thomas Wild in 1896 in Longton, one of six towns that make up Stoke-on-Trent. A family business, Thomas's sons subsequently ran the pottery. In 1928, Thomas Wild's son, Thomas C (Clark) Wild retired from active management of the business and was appointed Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent. Thomas C's sons, Thomas E. and Frederick J. were appointed joint managing directors in 1932. The Company underwent many changes after World War II, and the Wild family involvement ended in 1969. In 1970, Allied English Potteries changed the name to Royal Albert, Ltd. The factory in England closed around 2003 and all production thereafter was transferred to Indonesia and China.**
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| Enamel Kilns at Royal Albert Works, 1913*** |
Old Country Roses are manufactured today in Indonesia and China, and a new five-piece place setting sells retail for $100 to $145**** It would cost over $600.00 (before taxes and shipping) for four, five-piece place settings, cookie jar, teapot, creamer, and sugar. In the resale market, the pieces made in England are the most desirable and valuable. I spent hours, days, weeks searching for the best deals...a labor of love. The total cost (with taxes and shipping) of my collection which also includes a cookie jar (the only piece made in China), teapot, creamer, and open sugar, was $445.37.
Royal Albert, Old Country Roses
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