This delightful Royal Albert Moonlight Rose 21-piece tea set sold for an incredible £180 and a recent auction. Its delicate style is a great example of the Royal Albert name.
We’ve created this guide to the most popular Royal Albert China pieces and patterns to allow you to identify your rare, and possibly valuable, items. Read on to find out more!
The History of Royal Albert China
Launched in 1904, Royal Albert China has now become synonymous with china teaware and tableware. Its origins date even further back to 1896, when Thomas Wild Senior and Thomas C. Wild bought a factory in Stoke-on-Trent called Albert Works. It only took one year of production for Thomas Wild to be given a Royal Warrant, after creating a range of commemorative pieces for The Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The warrant and the factory name both led to the creation of the Royal Albert brand in 1904.
From 1920, the infamous Royal Albert floral style developed, taking inspiration from the English cottage garden with a hint of Art Deco style.
Whilst Beswick produced lots of the sought-after Beatrix Potter figures, it’s important to note that the Royal Albert factory was a manufacturer of these famous figures too.
In one of our antique, fine art and rare pottery sales, this beautiful collection of Royal Albert Beatrix Potter figures sold for a very pleasant £160.
Royal Albert China has a detailed and interesting history, the culmination of which means its legacy will now live on under the Wedgewood brand. In 2006, Wedgewood marked 100 years of Royal Albert by celebrating lots of the patterns that have been created.
Moving forward, Wedgewood has firmed up the presence of Royal Albert by not only relaunching the Old Country Roses pattern after 50 years, but also bringing Miranda Kerr into the design studio, creating a stunning afternoon tea collection.
How to Identify Royal Albert China
Royal Albert China has an enormous amount of backstamps, with markings varying in colour, style and size. There are even many backwards and misprinted stamps. Many patterns can also have their own registration number and pattern classification, along with the stamp being produced in a variety of colours.
With this is mind, it can be useful to seek specific support. At Potteries Auctions, we can identify and provide valuations on a wide range of Royal Albert China collections and individual pieces. Our team can help value your tableware or advise on how to complete collections. Our team can even help you sell family heirlooms of Royal Albert China pieces.
The main Royal Albert crown symbol hasn’t changed much over the years. It was introduced around 1905. However, it appeared in many different colours with slight variations.
Since the Wedgewood takeover in the backstamp has retained much of its original style. You can see how the Royal Albert crown has survived over 100 years of designs.
Photo Credit: Royal Albert Patterns
It can often be easier to assess the date of your piece by identifying the pattern. We’ve listed below the names of various Royal Albert tableware and chinaware patterns and the year in which they were first produced.
You might find the differing patterns have various ‘series’ of designs, with slight variations. Be sure to look at the bottom of your piece to find the pattern name, such as the ‘Blossom Time’ example below.
Photo Credit: Royal Albert Patterns
- Ancestral 1966
- Blossom Time 1966
- Buckingham 1970s
- Butterfly Garden 1984
- Cameo 1969
- Carousel 1950s
- Cascade 1960s
- Chateau 1960s
- Chatsworth 1960s
- A Country Bouquet 1990s
- Country Fayre 1977
- A Country Garden 1968
- Country Life 1980
- Country Scenes 1980
- Covent Garden Fruit 1994
- Dainty Dina 1966
- Debutante 1966
- Dorchester 1960s
- Duet 1960s
- Empress 1983
- English Country Cottages 1994
- Fashion 1950s
- Festival 1970s
- Fishy Wishy 1984
- Flora 1975
- Florentine 1960s
- Flower of the Month 1950s
- Friendship 1950s
- Gaiety 1950s
- Garden Party 1970s
- Garland 1970s
- Gold Crest 1960s
- Gossamer 1950
- Green Park 1960s
- Harmony 1983
- Horizon 1966
- Hyde Park 1970s
- Imperial Fruit 1992
- Interlude 1960s
- Invitation 1962
- Jacobean 1970s
- Juicy Fruits 1984
- Kington 1970s
- Lady Katherine 1950s
- Lakeside 1962
- Love Story 1962
- Lovely Lady 1984
- Majestic 1960s
- Marlborough 1960s
- Marquis 1960s
- May Fair 1930s
- Melody 1960s
- Milady 1970s
- Nell Gwynne 1980s
- New Romance 1978
- Orchard 1960s
- Overture 1970s
- Painter’s Rose 1970s
- Peerage 1960s
- Picardy 1960s
- Pierrette 1960s
- Pompadour 1960s
- Portrait 1970s
- Princess 1960s
- Provincial Flowers 1975
- Radiance 1970s
- Radom Harvest 1966
- Reflection 1970s
- Regal 1970s
- Regency 1970s
- Regina 1988
- Rockingham 1962
- Rose Chintz 1982
- Rose Marie 1960s
- Rosedale 1960s
- Royal Choice 1983
- Royal 1970s
- Send in the Clowns 1984
- Sheraton 1962
- Sonnet 1983
- South Pacific 1950s
- Springtime 1970s
- Summer Bounty 1988
- Summer Charm 1988
- Summertime 1978
- Sweet Heart Roses 1950s
- Symphony 1960s
- Tea Dance 1993
- True Love 1960s
- Vanity Fair 1960s
- Vintage 1962
- Wayside 1966
- Wildflower of the Month 1987
- Woodland Series 1980s
- Zodiac 1987
However, the most popular tea set pattern is, of course, Old Country Roses.
Royal Albert China Old Country Roses
This large collection of Old Country Roses dinnerware sold for a massive £380. It included tureen and covers, large platters, various sized plates, bowls, cups & saucers, trays, and trinkets – over 120 items! A fabulous collection for any home.
Perhaps one of the most recognisable Royal Albert patterns, Old Country Roses is a classic and a bestseller at auction. Old Country Roses was first manufactured in 1962 at the Royal Albert factory, and since then over an incredible 100 million pieces have been sold. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular, with its bright yet classy palette and gold trim.
Some of the older pieces of the pattern, produced in England, are still very popular. The backstamps below are ones to look out for.
Is Royal Albert China Worth Anything?
We know it can be an emotional decision to sell your collections and we want to help make the process as easy as possible. If you are looking to buy or sell Royal Albert China our team of experts at Potteries Auctions can help. Please get in touch with us to discuss how we can help you or request a call back if you are looking for an expert evaluation and are seeking to sell your Royal Albert china.
Alternatively, you can join us at one of our valuation days, email us for an appointment enquiries@potteriesauctions.com or call us on +44 (0)1782 638100 Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
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