Johnson Brothers was a British tableware manufacturing company founded by 4 brothers, which originated between 1880 and 1888. The company expanded and produced items for export to the United States for over 130 years, and was considered the largest pottery manufacturer in the world.
Johnson Brothers fue una compañía británica fabricante de vajillas fundada por 4 hermanos, la cual se originó entre los años 1880 y 1888. La compañía se extendió y produjo artículos de exportación hacia Estados Unidos durante más 130 años, y fue considerada como la mayor fabricante de cerámica del mundo.
Sometime around 1890, Johnson Brothers introduced a new style of pottery that was thinner. The other, more solid ceramics continued to be produced, that produced two tiers aimed at different markets. The finer goods were called "Royal Semi-Porcelain," and the backstamp logo featured a large angular crown, with a ribbon-style banner beneath it that read "Johnson" on the left and "Bros" on the right, with "England" below.
En algún momento alrededor de 1890, Johnson Brothers introdujo un nuevo estilo de cerámica que era más delgado. Las otras cerámicas, más sólidas, siguieron produciéndose, eso produjo dos niveles dirigidos a diferentes mercados. Los productos más finos se llamaban "Royal Semi-Porcelain", y el logotipo del sello trasero presentaba una gran corona angular, con una pancarta de estilo cinta debajo que decía "Johnson" a la izquierda y "Bros" a la derecha, con "England" debajo.
The company used various backstamps, for example, the Royal Arms from 1883 to about 1913. They also adopted other logo designs, including a globe engraved with lines of latitude and longitude, with a crown resting on top. The model name, if any, was written horizontally, and the word "Semi-Porcelain" formed a semicircle above the globe, and the words "Johnson Bros" and "England" also formed a semicircle below the globe.
La compañía utilizó diversos sellos traseros, por ejemplo, el de las Armas Reales desde 1883 hasta aproximadamente 1913. Asimismo, adoptaron otros diseños de logotipos, incluido un globo terráqueo grabado con líneas de latitud y longitud, con una corona apoyada en la parte superior. El nombre del modelo, si lo había, se escribía en horizontal, y la palabra "Semi-Porcelana" formaba un semicírculo sobre el globo, y las palabras "Johnson Bros" e "England", también formaban un semicírculo debajo del globo.
Johnson Brothers patterns in the 1890s were predominantly floral. Not all patterns were named, but many were, and a large number of them were generic names that echoed the floral design, such as Petunia. Although dinnerware plates were round, pieces such as tureens, pitchers and gravy boats were molded with an S-curve. Decorations were "random" floral sprays or repeated floral motifs around the rim, as in the case of hops, which represented the flowers and leaves of the hop plant.
Los patrones de Johnson Brothers en la década de 1890 eran predominantemente florales. No todos los patrones llevaban nombre, pero muchos sí, y un gran número de ellos eran nombres genéricos que se hacían eco del diseño floral, como Petunia. Aunque los platos de la vajilla eran redondos, piezas como las soperas, las jarras y las salseras se moldeaban con una curva en S. Las decoraciones eran rociados florales "al azar" o motivos florales repetidos alrededor del borde, como en el caso del lúpulo, que representaba las flores y las hojas de la planta del lúpulo.
The history of tableware manufactured by Johnson Brothers has been grouped according to their patterns related to a general period of production: Old World Style for the New World (1880-1914), Allies in War and Trade (1914-1939), American History (The British Version, 1900-1939), Commemoratives and Souvenirs (1925-1970), Prosperity and Nostalgia (1950-1975), Modern Style, New Traditions (1965-2000).
La historia de las vajillas fabricadas por Johnson Brothers se ha agrupado según sus patrones relacionados con un período general de producción: Estilo del Viejo Mundo para el Nuevo Mundo (1880-1914), Aliados en la Guerra y el Comercio (1914-1939), Historia Americana (La versión británica, 1900-1939), Conmemorativos y Recuerdos (1925-1970), Prosperidad y Nostalgia (1950-1975), Estilo Moderno, Nuevas Tradiciones (1965-2000).
The tableware I showed is an inheritance from my great-grandfather (1858-1925) and he probably acquired it on one of his trips to the United States when he held a governmental position that began in 1912 during the presidential term of Juan Vicente Gómez.
La vajilla que mostré es herencia de mi bisabuelo (1858-1925) y es probable la haya adquirido en uno de sus viajes a Estados Unidos cuando ejercía funciones en un cargo gubernamental que inició en 1912 durante el mandato presidencial de Juan Vicente Gómez.
Imágenes capturadas con cámara digital Fujifilm FinePix Z90.
I recently inherited some old ceramic plates from my grandmother that she brought back from Europe many years ago. The plates are very beautiful and I would like to use them, but I wondered how safe they are. After all, in the past, glazes containing lead were often used in the production of ceramics, especially for brightness and luster. I started looking for ways to test old pottery for lead without damaging it, and to make sure the test was accurate enough.
Very interesting your comment, I would not have thought of that.
Yes, lead can indeed be present in old ceramic dinnerware, especially in glazes applied to the surface. To make sure your plates are safe to use, I recommend using a home lead test kit here. This test kit allows you to quickly and accurately test your cookware for lead. It is very easy to use: just wipe the surface with the special test rod and compare the color to a reference scale.
Thank you, excellent contribution (@billygeanss).