When collectors talk about the top three English majolica potteries they always mention Minton, George Jones and Wedgwood. That these three are considered separate from all the other dozens of potteries is based largely on their quality. The three had a very high standard of design and workmanship that sets them apart from the rest. But there was a fourth large pottery that made fine quality majolica, one that is rarely placed in such illustrious company—Joseph Holdcroft and Company. In spite of their prodigious output Holdcroft never quite makes the cut. Their designs are a little less sophisticated, their glazes a little less vibrant, and their workmanship a lot more variable than the others. This is not to diminish all their work because they made some extraordinary pottery. Their output just seems to lack that little something extra that distinguishes "great" from "very, very good." It's hard to believe, but in the years that I have been doing this blog I have never done a post exclusively on the Holdcroft pottery. That fact alone echoes the general consensus of how Holcroft is considered. It is the pottery equivalent of Rodney Dangerfield. It just doesn't get any respect!
Unlike most who worked in the pottery trade, Joseph Holdcroft did not come from poverty. He was the child of an affluent pottery owner, William Holdcroft, who spent most of his education in private schools and first entered into partnership as Holdcroft & Wood, nephew of Enoch Wood, at the George Street Pottery. According to Llewellynn Jewitt in his book The Ceramic Art of Great Britain:
Joseph Holdcroft
At these works Mr. W. Holdcroft (formerly Holdcroft & Wood) manufactures all kinds of earthenware dinner, toilet, tea, and other services, and the usual varieties of useful articles. Jugs are produced in immense quantities and of great variety, both in form and in styles of ornamentation, as is also every variety of goods. Even in the commoner classes a better style of decoration is observable in
the productions of this manufactory than in many others. The styles of ornamentation are hand painting, transfer printing, ground colours, lustre-glazes, &c.(sic). The markets produced for are both home and foreign, and the general classes of goods are what may be called generally commercial. Connected with these works is the highly interesting fact that Mr. Holdcroft was the first to introduce the down-draught system of firing into the potteries, which has effected a great saving in fuel and a freedom from smoke.
 The William Holdcroft George Street pottery in Tunstall  |
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The Joseph Holdcroft pottery at Daisy Bank, |
Upon graduation from the Wedgwood Institute he joined his father's pottery, where he developed several patents for the manufacture of earthenware. Like George Jones before him, Joseph Holdcroft then worked for Mintons—for eighteen years—leaving there around 1865 to open his own concern on St. Martin's Lane in Longton where he specialized in silver luster. About five years later he opened the Sunderland Pottery at Daisy Bank, Longton where he specialized in majolica, Parian and silver luster. The company's product was well respected and received good sales during its time. Llewellynn Jewit described his work thus:
His majolica productions are of a high class, both in design, in quality, and in workmanship ; a "Wren
Vase” with well-modelled(sic) birds and flowers, is a speciality of his works.
After 1885, the thrust of the company changed and it went from producing high quality original ware to cheaper, poorly potted imitative patterns. The quality of the work suffered for the sake of output and workmanship varied significantly. The company continued production of this cheaper majolica until 1906 when Joseph Holdcroft died. The pottery was then taken over by his son, Thomas who changed the name to Holdcroft Ltd. and added the production of enameled brick. The company continued in operation until around 1930.
It's this long and varied quality production of majolica that is responsible for the tainted reputation of the Holdcroft name today. Whereas their finest majolica is among the best produced, the Holdcroft name on a piece is no guarantee of quality as it is the case of the big three potteries.
It's this long and varied quality production of majolica that is responsible for the tainted reputation of the Holdcroft name today. Whereas their finest majolica is among the best produced, the Holdcroft name on a piece is no guarantee of quality as it is the case of the big three potteries.
Holdcroft design registered 1870
Holdcroft majolica salt
Of Holdcroft's original designs, at least twelve were registered between 1870-1883. Many of their other original designs were produced in prodigious quantities though few were copied by contemporary studios.
Recognizing Holdcroft majolica is not always easy since they didn't always mark their wares. When they did mark it the company marked its wares in one of two ways, either with the initials JH in a circle or the name J. Holdcroft in capital letters in a straight line. A way of recognizing unmarked ware is by the underside glaze. Most commonly the underside of Holdcroft pieces will be glazed a recognizable dull green glaze. Some pieces, particularly plates, can be glazed in a mottled gray, blue and brown combination. Less commonly the undersides were glazed in a solid brown or green and brown mottle.
Another way of recognizing Holdcroft is by the quality of the glazes themselves. Their turquoise glaze is a slightly duller color than that of the turquoise of other companies; their green is a slightly dull gray/green. They tend to favor what appears to contemporary eyes to be strange color combinations like turquoise, chartreuse and brown as well as turquoise and brown and cobalt and brown. Their modeling is also not among the finest. Human faces look a little bit odd and animals are usually highly stylized. In general their design sense is rather clumsy from a modern perspective but most of it had decent, and sometimes exceptional, craftsmanship close to that of the "big three". The company made some wonderful things.
Holdcroft majolica salmon fish platter
Holdcroft majolica pond lily plate
Holdcroft majolica grape leaf dessert stand
Holdcroft majolica pomegranate tea set
Holdcroft majolica pomegranate pitcher
Holdcroft majolica swallow jug
Holdcroft majolica shell mug
Holdcroft majolica swan jardiniere 
Holdcroft six well oyster plate
Recognizing Holdcroft majolica is not always easy since they didn't always mark their wares. When they did mark it the company marked its wares in one of two ways, either with the initials JH in a circle or the name J. Holdcroft in capital letters in a straight line. A way of recognizing unmarked ware is by the underside glaze. Most commonly the underside of Holdcroft pieces will be glazed a recognizable dull green glaze. Some pieces, particularly plates, can be glazed in a mottled gray, blue and brown combination. Less commonly the undersides were glazed in a solid brown or green and brown mottle.
Another way of recognizing Holdcroft is by the quality of the glazes themselves. Their turquoise glaze is a slightly duller color than that of the turquoise of other companies; their green is a slightly dull gray/green. They tend to favor what appears to contemporary eyes to be strange color combinations like turquoise, chartreuse and brown as well as turquoise and brown and cobalt and brown. Their modeling is also not among the finest. Human faces look a little bit odd and animals are usually highly stylized. In general their design sense is rather clumsy from a modern perspective but most of it had decent, and sometimes exceptional, craftsmanship close to that of the "big three". The company made some wonderful things.
Holdcroft oyster plate  Holdcroft squab terrine  Holdcroft majolica fish terrine |
  Holdcroft lily punch bowl |
| Holdcroft majolica butterfly vase |
   Holdcroft majolica basket  Holdcroft majolica basket  Holdccroft majolica bowl |
Holdcroft copy of a George Jones design Holdcroft majolica bird jardiniere   Holdcroft tobacco butter pat   |
Holdcroft majolica jardiniere
Holdcroft majolica dog with basket
 Holdcroft majolica swan vase  cheese bells and jardinieres |
 Holdcroft majolica hunt jug   Holdcroft majolica shell bowl   Holdcroft majolica shell compote  |
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| Holdcroft tobacco leaf umbrella stand another popular design. |
Holdcroft majolica pomegranate mustache cup and saucer
Holdcroft majolica pomegranate teapot
Holdcroft majolica pomegranate dessert stand
Holdcroft majolica pomegranate cake tray
Holdcroft majolica pomegranate cheese dome
Holdcroft majolica umbrella stand
Stork majolica cane stand
Holdcroft stork umbrella stand
Holdcroft majolica bamboo cane stand
Holdcroft majolica banana leaf umbrella stand
Holdcroft bird cane stand
Holdcroft majolica ram’s head jardiniere
Holdcroft bird finial box
Holdcroft majolica lily of the valley platter
Joseph Holdcroft "Eat Thy Bread With Thankfulness" bread tray
Holdcroft majolica salmon fish platter
Holdcroft majolica fish plate
Holdcroft majolica pomegranate plate
Holdcroft majolica Japanese influenced crane plate
Holdcroft majolica crane dessert stand
Holdcroft majolica grape leaf and fern plate
Holdcroft majolica tobacco cake tray
Holdcroft majolica grape leaf plate
Holdcroft majolica shell and daisy butter pat
Holdcroft majolica fan and swallow butter pat
| Holdcroft "Melon" teapot, registered 1879 |
     Holdcroft majolica tea set |
Holdcroft boy on coconut teapot
Holdcroft boy on coconut tea set
A Holdcroft registered design from 1877
Holdcroft majolica rustic syrup jug
Holdcroft majolica pond lily syrup jug
Holdcroft majolica bear with drum pitcher
Holdcroft majolica decanter
| Rare Holdcroft bird on apple teapot. |
Holdcroft majolica putti jardiniere
Holdcroft majolica parrot jardiniere
Holdcroft majolica nesting birds jardiniere
Holdcroft majolica pond lily jardiniere
Holdcroft majolica morning glory jardiniere
Holdcroft majolica jardiniere, a copy of G. Jones
Holdcroft majolica jardiniere
Holdcroft majolica shell bonbonnière, registered 1880
Holdcroft "Rustic" Stilton cheese stand
Holdcroft pond lily cheese dome |
Holdcroft majolica centre
Holdcroft four well oyster plate
Holdcroft garden seat
Holdcroft garden seat
Holdcroft majolica gardin seat
Holdcroft handled cake tray
Holdcroft fern and grape leaf handled tray
When collecting Holdcroft, it is easily found but doesn't quite bring the prices of the larger potteries so a fine collection can be assembled at a relatively reasonably rate. You need to be conscious of the craftsmanship when buying because of the large variation in quality made. There are a variety of interesting patterns, like: Rustic, Alligator, Pomegranate, Tobacco Leaf, Pond Lily, and Apple Blossom plus the usual assortment of novelty items. As in other cases, signed examples will command higher prices than those that are not signed.
Joseph Holdcroft
Wonderful information, thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteHi, I have a piece that is very similar to the Holdcroft dog with basket but mine is a cat holding onto a basket with another basket beneath him as well as a mouse and a barrel. There is a an embossed HH and the number 348 on the bottom. Are you familiar with this piece. It is very charming. It had been in the collection of an auction house outside Dallas, TX for some time before they sold it off when they moved.
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