Tableware History / Info: MASONS IRONSTONE OF ENGLAND

Here is yet another installment of many guides that we, REPLACEMENTS, LTD., will be posting to provide some interesting information on several manufacturer's of some the world's most collectible porcelain gepanies. This one will be about Mason's Ironstone of England, maker's of the popular Vista-Pink and Denmark-Blue patterns. We'll be highlighting a few of these patterns below.

See our VISTA PINK, HERE!
HISTORY OF MASON'S IRONSTONE
Miles Mason began his career in 1796 as a china importer in London, England. At that time, Europe was actively engaged in trade with the Orient. The Orient was expressly efficient at producing quality china and porcelain and the extravagant designs streaming from the East were immensely popular throughout Europe. As the production of china became more and more heavily influenced by Oriental imports, Miles Mason made the decision to leave his job as a china wholesaler and open his own porcelain producing factory. In 1804, Mason officially announced his exit from the import business with an article in the London Morning Herald.



See our DENMARK BLUE, HERE! See our CHRISTMAS VILLAGE, HERE!
Through his work as a china importer, Mason amassed considerable wealth. Using his acquired wealth as startup capital, he opened a pottery factory at Lane Delph, Fenton. In 1806, Masons factory officially opened and became known as the Minerva Works. Miles Mason solicited his three sons to manage his Fenton factory. Because the Minerva Works was controlled by the Mason family, the factory soon became known as Masons. Miles Masons earliest productions were simply marked with the backstamp M Mason and were heavily influenced by the Oriental porcelain that he imported to London in 1796.



See our REGENCY, HERE! See our VISTA BLUE, HERE!
In 1813, Charles James Mason, the third son of Miles Mason, received a patent for his ironstone china. This hardened earthenware proved useful in the production of daily china, as well as industrial strength tiles used in furnaces, fireplaces, and flooring. Because of its exceptional durability, ironstone became the most successful product sold by the Minerva Works factory. Soon after the creation of ironstone, the Masons name became popular throughout England and Europe. In 1815, Charles Mason married Sarah Spode, the granddaughter of Josiah Spode. As a result of the familial alliance, the Minerva Works acquired a second factory that was being held by the Spode family in Fenton.



See our VISTA BROWN, HERE! See our MANDALAY, HERE!
By 1820, the ironstone productions of the Minerva Works factory had built up an exceptional repertoire of patterns that were Oriental in character but reflected many Italian and English landscapes. In 1822, the Minerva Works was devastated by the death of its founder, Miles Mason. Despite the grief felt by the gepany and its employees, the Minerva Works continued to successfully produce and sell many ironstone patterns. One reason for the immense success of the gepany came as a result of a unique marketing technique employed by Charles Mason. Rather than selling his product through catalogues, solicited orders, or door-to-door sales, Charles Mason auctioned his product. Until this time, auctions were used only for estate sales and overstock sales.



See our QUAIL BROWN, HERE! See our FRUIT BASKET, HERE!
In 1829, the Minerva Works became known as Charles J. Mason