Tube-lining: Brown
Enamels: Scarlet
Lustres: Dark brown, light brown, green & orange
Glaze: Off white
Frequency Ranking: 1/50
Design Date: 1937
Production Period: 1936 - 1942 Then throughout 1940s & 1950s, possibly into 1960s. Also beware modern reproductions
Pattern Name: The name Golden Leaves is recorded in the pattern book and also mentioned in trade journals of the period
Enamels: Scarlet
Lustres: Dark brown, light brown, green & orange
Glaze: Off white
Frequency Ranking: 1/50
Design Date: 1937
Production Period: 1936 - 1942 Then throughout 1940s & 1950s, possibly into 1960s. Also beware modern reproductions
Pattern Name: The name Golden Leaves is recorded in the pattern book and also mentioned in trade journals of the period
Golden Leaves is the most common of Charlotte's tube-lined designs
for Crown Ducal and was no doubt a huge commercial success for the
company. More than 10% of tube-lined fancies are in this
pattern, which considering that Golden Leaves was designed in early
1937, (about half way through Charlotte's time at Crown Ducal), signifies
that Charlotte's decorators must have been active with this
pattern fairly continuously from 1937 onward.
It should be noted that between 20% and 25% of Golden Leaves examples have base markings, or, are on shapes that indicate they were made after Charlotte had left the company.
It should be noted that between 20% and 25% of Golden Leaves examples have base markings, or, are on shapes that indicate they were made after Charlotte had left the company.
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| Pattern 4921 Golden Leaves |
The design elements for Golden Leaves were not new ones for Charlotte
as they are clearly a development of her Elesmere/Wenlock/Breedon
tableware print design together with a border similar to
that used for Byzantine, (2681). We are fortunate that research by
Gerrard Shaw is able to confirm the history and design attribution of
these tableware patterns which is well presented in his thesis
and book. The tableware patterns were very popular and were produced in
several colourways. The three original versions were released in early
1935, Elesmere, (4009), in blue/yellow/green, Wenlock,
(4010), in pink/yellow/green and Breedon, (4011), in
orange/yellow/brown. Another couple of variations, in almost Golden
Leaves colours of scarlet and grey, (4230 & 4299), were released in
the
spring of that year. Then in the summer of 1936 pattern 4820 appears
with the leaves in green and flowers in orange, yellow, brown and red.
The success of these latter versions probably triggered the transfer of the design to fancies and the creation of Golden Leaves. There was a final tableware version in greens and orange and yellow, pattern number 5003 which was named Stretton. So, with seven versions in tableware and her best selling tube-lined design these attractive arrangements of flowers and leaves were probably her greatest commercial contribution to A G Richardson & Co Ltd.
The success of these latter versions probably triggered the transfer of the design to fancies and the creation of Golden Leaves. There was a final tableware version in greens and orange and yellow, pattern number 5003 which was named Stretton. So, with seven versions in tableware and her best selling tube-lined design these attractive arrangements of flowers and leaves were probably her greatest commercial contribution to A G Richardson & Co Ltd.
There are colour variations to be found of Golden Leaves where the
lustres are substituted with enamels. The most frequently found has a
Cairo green border, leaves in pale brown, a different shade
of green and the usual scarlet for flowers and dots in the border. Other
elements that are different in this version are that the diagonal bars
in the border are left uncoloured and sometimes the
scarlet dots in the border frieze are absent. The rarest version has
only the one shade of green, Cairo green on the leaves, and light brown
for leaves and the border. Flowers are in scarlet as
before but no examples have been seen with scarlet dots in the border
frieze.
The green enamel leaves and border variation make up about 2.5% of the Golden Leaves sample seen and the brown enamel bordered version less thhan 1%. Virtually all of the examples with these variations are signed and so are presumed to have been made during the main production period before Charlotte left.
The green enamel leaves and border variation make up about 2.5% of the Golden Leaves sample seen and the brown enamel bordered version less thhan 1%. Virtually all of the examples with these variations are signed and so are presumed to have been made during the main production period before Charlotte left.
References of the period:
Pottery Gazette and Glass Trades Review, June 1937 page 797
A treatment which has been christened “Golden Leaves” is a very arrestive item in the most recent series of productions. This consists of a design executed in autumn colourings upon an off white glaze of semi-matt texture. A full range of pieces is offered in this series, all of them capable of retailing at a very reasonable figure. We have pleasure in giving an illustration of a group of pieces in this new range of ornamental wares.
This photograph from the June 1937 edition of the Pottery Gazette shows four examples of Golden Leaves. From left to right vases in shapes 211, 212, 132 & 133.
Pottery Gazette and Glass Trades Review, February 1938 page 215
.... and the “Golden Leaves”, one of the best sellers of last year, promises to retain its firm hold upon the market....
Pottery Gazette and Glass Trades Review, June 1937 page 797
A treatment which has been christened “Golden Leaves” is a very arrestive item in the most recent series of productions. This consists of a design executed in autumn colourings upon an off white glaze of semi-matt texture. A full range of pieces is offered in this series, all of them capable of retailing at a very reasonable figure. We have pleasure in giving an illustration of a group of pieces in this new range of ornamental wares.
This photograph from the June 1937 edition of the Pottery Gazette shows four examples of Golden Leaves. From left to right vases in shapes 211, 212, 132 & 133.
Pottery Gazette and Glass Trades Review, February 1938 page 215
.... and the “Golden Leaves”, one of the best sellers of last year, promises to retain its firm hold upon the market....
CAUTION!!
Collectors who are considering purchasing a Golden Leaves item should be aware that there are modern reproductions of the design in circulation. The design may be copied quite faithfully but will be moulded and decorated with modern ceramic paints and clear glaze, rather that tube-lined in slip clay and finished with enamels, lustres and the off white, slightly mottled glazes that Charlotte would have used. Sadly these reproductions can occur on shapes similar to those that Crown Ducal used and also BursleyWare shapes from when Charlotte worked at H J Woods Ltd. The base markings may also incorporate Crown Ducal backstamps, but can usually be identified as a modern reproduction because they have printed Charlotte Rhead signatures rather than tube-lined marks on the base.
Collectors who are considering purchasing a Golden Leaves item should be aware that there are modern reproductions of the design in circulation. The design may be copied quite faithfully but will be moulded and decorated with modern ceramic paints and clear glaze, rather that tube-lined in slip clay and finished with enamels, lustres and the off white, slightly mottled glazes that Charlotte would have used. Sadly these reproductions can occur on shapes similar to those that Crown Ducal used and also BursleyWare shapes from when Charlotte worked at H J Woods Ltd. The base markings may also incorporate Crown Ducal backstamps, but can usually be identified as a modern reproduction because they have printed Charlotte Rhead signatures rather than tube-lined marks on the base.