The characteristics of a coddler that are used to determine the type of coddler are the backstamp and the screw threads. In many cases, we may refer to a backstamp style by the type of coddler upon which it was seen. However, two types of coddler, or two sub-types of coddler, are distinguished from one another by the combination of backstamp impression, color of the backstamp, method of application of the backstamp to the coddler, material and spacing of the screw threads, and other discernable differences in manufacturing process or visual characteristic, other than the pattern.
Type 1
Type 1 has a backstamp that consists of a shield with the words
ROYAL CHINA WORKS over the top and WORCESTER
underneath.
The
screw threads
are finer-pitched.
This backstamp is actually the imprint of George Grainger and Company. The Grainger porcelain works was started in 1801 by Thomas Grainger. The business had different names over the years as Grainger partnered with others: Grainger and Wood, Grainger and Lee. George Grainger took over the business when his father died in 1839. The company was taken over by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company, Ltd. and was operated by Royal Worcester until 1902. The mark shown above was used from 1889 to 1902, and it includes a date code, in the form of a letter, under ENGLAND, which indicates the year of production. A for 1891, B for 1892, C for 1893, and so on until L for 1902, the year in which the Grainger porcelain works were shut down. Reference: Miller's Pottery & Porcelain Marks, p. 156
| Click here to view Type 1 backstamps |
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Type 2
Type 2 backstamps have C51 in a circle topped by a crown.
RW was founded in 1751, hence the
significance of C51 in their backstamp motifs.
Around the inside of the circle is the stylized W that
looks like wavy lines. Around the bottom of the circle
written ROYAL WORCESTER ENGLAND.
RW used a set of dot markings, starting in 1891, where the number of dots on either side of the crwon or among or below the words of the backstamp indicate the year of manufacture of the piece. The number of dots indicate a the year of manufacture of the piece. 1891 had no dots (the crown had a new design). 1892 had one dot to the left of the crown. 1893 had two dots, one on either side of the crown, and so on, up to 1915, where there are twenty-four dots, six on either side of the crown in two rows, and twelve beneath the words. In 1916 RW started adding other symbols and marks to the dot code. RW continues to use date coding on some pieces. On egg coddlers, it seems that they stopped using the date codes early.
Type 2A and Type 2B coddlers have a reference number, RdNo #561564 in a box below the circle. According to KM, this would be an English registry mark, and if so, the design was registered in 1909 with the British Patent Office. The screw threads are finer-pitched.
Type 2A
The backstamp is red. This mark has been seen
on a coddler with a silver lid. The example shown has twenty dots, and so
it's believed that the year of manufacture was 1911. The lid is
hallmarked 1912. (BB).
| Click here to view a Type 2A backstamp |
|---|
Type 2B
This backstamp is green, with the reference number
RdNo
#561564 in a rectangular box below the circle.
These backstamps have the Royal Worcester "dot code"
for dating the piece.
| Click here to view Type 2B backstamps |
|---|
Type 2C
This backstamp is black. It is like 2A and 2B, without the
registration number. This example also has twenty-one dots and so
it's believed to be manufactured in 1912.
| Click here to view a Type 2C backstamp |
|---|
Type 3
Type 3 backstamps consist of the characters C51
in a circle topped by a crown. Around the top of the
circle are the words ROYAL WORCESTER.
Beneath the circle appears ENGLAND.
There are banners on either side of the circle
in which the words CROWN and WARE appear.
The backstamp on Type 3 coddlers is dull green in color. The
backstamp is underneath the glaze (i.e., it can't be scraped off with
a fingernail, although
we don't recommend doing this as a test, especially on an older
coddler). The screw threads
are finer-pitched.
The pedestal is often smaller than on the other types of RW coddlers.
Some Type 3 backstamps have the Royal Worcester dot marking codes, beneath the circle and above ENGLAND.
| Click here to view Type 3 backstamps |
|---|
Type 4
Type 4 is actually a set of backstamps. Most of the Type 4 backstamps
have C51 in a circle topped by a crown. Around the top of the
circle is written ROYAL WORCESTER VITREOUS or just
ROYAL WORCESTER. Under the circle is written
MADE IN ENGLAND or just ENGLAND. In some cases there
are additional words stamped or superimposed onto the basic design.
the backstamp is dull green in color
and is underneath the glaze.
The
screw threads
are finer-pitched.
Type 4A
The backstamp consists of the words ROYAL WORCESTER VITREOUS
above and ENGLAND beneath the circle.
Type 4B
The backstamp consists of the words ROYAL WORCESTER
above and MADE IN ENGLAND beneath the circle.
| Click here to view a Type 4B backstamp |
|---|
Type 4C
The backstamp is the same as
Type 4B, with the words
FIREPROOF PORCELAIN superimposed on the bottom of the circle.
| Click here to view Type 4C backstamps |
|---|
Type 4E
The backstamp is the same as
Type 4B, with the word
FIREPROOF superimposed on the bottom of the circle.
Type 5
The backstamps of Type 5 coddlers all have
the stylized script W in the center of the circle. The subtypes
are distinguished by the words and placement of them in the backstamp
design. All Type 5 coddlers have the finer-pitched (tighter, or
older)
threads, except
Type 5E.
Type 5A
Type 5A has the W in a circle, with
ESTABLISHED above and 1751 below the W inside the
circle. Outside the circle appears ROYAL WORCESTER
above and HOTEL CHINA below around the outside of the circle.
Across the top of the backstamp are the words
MADE IN ENGLAND.
This coddler was probably manufactured for the restaurant trade.
| Click here to view a Type 5A backstamp |
|---|
Type 5B
Type 5B has the W in a circle, with
ROYAL WORCESTER above and FELDSPAR CHINA below around
the outside of the circle. Across the top of the backstamp is the
word BRODIES.
| Click here to view a Type 5B backstamp |
|---|
Type 5C
Type 5C has the W inside a circle,
with the words ROYAL WORCESTER above the circle,
PORCELAIN beneath the circle,
and
MADE IN ENGLAND in smaller print below that. The backstamp is
black, and under the glaze. This backstamp is similar to several
other types.
Here is a table backstamp characteristics
of those similar types.
| Click here to view a Type 5C backstamp |
|---|
Type 5D
Type 5D has the W inside a circle,
with the words ROYAL WORCESTER above the circle,
PORCELAIN beneath the circle,
and
MADE IN ENGLAND in smaller print below that.
The backstamp is black, and under the glaze. The text in this
backstamp is smaller in size than in
Type 5C.
This backstamp is similar to several other types.
Here is a table backstamp characteristics
of those similar types.
| Click here to view a Type 5D backstamp |
|---|
Type 5E
Type 5E has the stylized script W inside a circle.
Outside the circle appears ROYAL WORCESTER
above and FELDSPAR CHINA below around the outside of the circle.
Type 5E has
the less-dense
screw threads. This type is like
Type 5B without the word BRODIES and with
the newer screw threads.
| Click here to view a Type 5E backstamp |
|---|
Type 6
Type 6 is a grouping of examples that we don't really know the
chronology of yet. These all have the
finer
screw threads.
Type 6A
Type 6A has the same wording in the backstamp as
Type 7
but in a larger type.
| Click here to view a Type 6A backstamp |
|---|
| Click here to view a Type 6B backstamp |
|---|
Type 6C
Type 6C has the words
FIREPROOF PORCELAIN WORCESTER ENGLAND.
| Click here to view a Type 6C backstamp |
|---|
Type 6D
Type 6D has a circle of words with MADE IN
and ENGLAND in the centre of the circle. At the top of the
circle is ROYAL WORCESTER and at the bottom is FIREPROOF.
| Click here to view a Type 6D backstamp |
|---|
Type 7
Type 7 coddlers have a backstamp that consists of the word
ROYAL above the word WORCESTER above the word
ENGLAND with no other lines or symbols. The backstamp is dull
green and is underneath the glaze. The
screw threads
are finer-pitched.
| Click here to view a Type 7 backstamp |
|---|
| Click here to view a Type 8 backstamp |
|---|
| Click here to view a Type 9 backstamp |
|---|
| Click here to view a Type 10 backstamp |
|---|
Type 11
Type 11 coddlers have a backstamp with the stylized
script W, with the Registered Trademark symbol ® to
the lower right, inside a circle. Outside the circle appears ROYAL
WORCESTER above and PORCELAIN below around the outside of
the circle. Beneath that is MADE IN ENGLAND in smaller type.
The screw threads
are of the newer, less-dense pitch. The backstamp of Type 11
is black and is imprinted over the glaze. The rim of the coddler
is made of metal. Type 11 differs from
Type 9
only in that Type 11 includes the Registered Trademark symbol.
Type 11 differs from
Type 10
only in that Type 10 has a nylon rim instead of metal.
| Click here to view a Type 11 backstamp |
|---|
Type 12
Type 12 coddlers have a backstamp with the
C51 in a circle topped by a crown. The inner scrollwork of the
circle appears to be stylized script Ws at the top, bottom,
left, and right. Around the outside of the circle,
is written ROYAL WORCESTER ® FINE PORCELAIN.
Beneath that, in slightly larger type, is written horizontally
MADE IN ENGLAND
and beneath that line is written
OVEN TO TABLE WARE.
The screw threads
are of the newer, less-dense pitch. The backstamp of Type 12
is black and is imprinted over the glaze. The rim of the coddler
is made of metal.
| Click here to view a Type 12 backstamp |
|---|
| Backstamp Type | Diameter of the circle in mm (measure from the outside edges of the circle) | Height of the words ROYAL WORCESTER | Distance between the bottom two loops of the W in the center of the circle in mm (measure from the outside edges of the loops at the widest part) | Color of backstamp | Thread type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 5C | 14 mm | 2 mm | 4 mm | black | tighter |
| Type 5D | 10 mm | 1.5 mm | 3 mm | black | tighter |
| Type 8 | 12 mm | 1.5 mm | 4 mm | green | looser |
| Type 9 | 9 mm | 1 mm | 3 mm | black | looser |
Type 9 also has much cleaner backstamp images than the earlier three ... much less blurring.
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