During the late Victorian period a craze swept the nation; that of collecting little china souvenirs decorated with the crests of the towns and villages they were purchased from. They were available in an amazing array of shapes, from pots and bottles, to aeroplanes, lighthouses, shoes, cottages, and many more. There were also many manufacturers of these items, the most famous being the W.H. Goss factory, who had a reputation for producing the finest china pieces in the country. Other makers included Arcadian, Carlton, Grafton, Shelley, and other smaller concerns. These trinkets were produced in their millions, and it is a pretty safe assumption that most households in the country had one or two among their contents, whether they were personal souvenirs of a holiday, or a little present from friends or relatives.
The photographs on this page have been taken mostly from auctions listed on eBay. Some leave a lot to be desired as to their quality, but I will upgrade to better quality photographs as and when they become available.
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ALEXANDRA
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ARCADIAN
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CARLTON
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FOLEY
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GRAFTON
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IMPERIAL
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JB & Co.
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ROYAL IVORY
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SHELLEY
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TUSCAN
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VICTORIA
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WILLOW ART
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UNMARKED
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© K. Morris 2009