George Jones English Majolica Chestnut Leaf Plate / Dish from 1860s

George Jones, English majolica chestnut leaf plate or dish. It measures 9'' in diameter and bears early hallmarks, which allow us to date this plate as made between 1866 and 1873, as shown and as explained below. 

Majolica produced by George Jones rivals that of Minton and Wedgwood in both design and workmanship. After a 7 year apprenticeship with Minton, which he finished in 184, he worked as a traveling salesman for Wedgwood. By 1850 he had established himself as a successful china merchant in Stoke-on-Trent. It was not until 1862 that George Jones entered the pottery manufacturing business with the acquisition of the Bridge works. In 1864, Jones purchased parcels of land from Colin Minton Campbell of the Minton factory for construction of the Trent Potteries, which was completed in late 1865. It was in this new and efficient pottery works that George Jones commenced production of majolica in 1866. George Jones won a medal at the Paris Exhibition in 1867 and received acclaim at exhibitions in London (1871), Vienna (1873) and Sydney (1876).

By 1873 Jones' eldest two sons had become familiar with the business and joined their father in partnership. The firm was retitled George Jones & Sons and the name “Crescent” was registered as the trademark of the new company. At the time, the firm employed 590 skilled workers. Following George Jones’ death in 1893, the family firm saw continued success until the early twentieth century. The company was sold to managing director Walter Bakewell in 1929 and by 1951 the trade name George Jones & Sons was no longer used.

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