The missing Meakin – Alfred and the enigma of his mid-century tableware

1940s 'Ceylon Tea' tennis set

Alfred Meakin is something of an enigma. Facts are scanty and disputed and I can’t find a book about the firm anywhere! Please feel free to correct me and point me to an authoritative source.

Brother to Joseph and George (who traded prolificly as J&G Meakin), Alfred Meakin set out on his own in 1845 for unexplained reasons, building a successful business making ordinary domestic ware and traditional tableware for the masses at home, and developing a healthy export market from a base at Tunstall, Staffordshire. 

After Alfred Meakin moved to a new factory in 1957, many new tableware shapes and patterns were introduced.

1950s 'Brixham' tureen

Some designs from the 1950s and 1960s reflect better known designs, such as Midwinter’s Riviera or Cannes or Ridgway Potteries' Homemaker and are typical examples of what many firms of the period were producing. The company employed 1,000 in 1973, and 2,000 in 1977.

Brixham, Polperro and St Ives from the charming seaside range depicted townscapes, fishing and sailing scenes, particularly from the Cornish coast. Very much in the same vein, and probably following the Midwinter patterns above, Red Sails is a simple design, with two small racing yachts and some very nice seagulls, quite like Palissy's Regatta (I have a lovely serving bowl and platter as well as several bowls and side plates).

'Poodles' saucer with '50s cup

Think Meakin and we must think kitsch! Reminiscent of Ridgway's Parisienne, I have a number of cake plates and saucers (and some lovely, unstamped 1950s cups to go with) in Poodles, a sweet little monochrome pattern featuring various dog breeds and their elegant walkers.

I recently acquired a teapot, to match the pair of teacups and saucers in the exuberant 1970s Sunflowers pattern. I also have a welter of dinner, salad and side plates in both Flight (flying ducks) and Shangri La (Oriental landscape with flying crane). In the latter design I also have a lovely, pale blue tureen. I use its twin all the time at home for soups and veg dishes – it makes even the simplest dish seem special.

Alfred Meakin 1970s 'Sunflowers' teapot, cups & saucers

To commemorate the importance of the American market to the company's rapid growth in the late 19th Century, Alfred Meakin released the gorgeous Covered Wagon pattern in the 1950s – nearly as cute as the Oklahoma pattern, but nowhere near as camp!

Very much in the same spirit as Sunflowers, and with cute, pink highlights, Meakin and the same (unnamed) designer also produced a French-themed series, including Montmartre, Boulevard and Down by the Seine. Two of the most collected patterns in this style are less exotic but no less exuberant: Carousel and Jivers.

Myott-Meakin revived the use of the Alfred Meakin backstamp for bone china in 1985 but this range (some of which was manufactured in China) was discontinued late 1989/early 1990 to concentrate on earthenware production. The majority of Myott-Meakin production was exported.

That's about all I have on Alfred Meakin. Any additional info is most welcome!