Match Striker Gallery (Carlton Ware 1)

Company History

Wiltshaw & Robinson was formed as a partnership between J.F. Wiltshaw and two brothers, W.H. Robinson and J.A. Robinson in 1890. Pottery production then began in the Carlton Works in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

In 1894 they added the trade name Carlton Ware to their products.

Traded as Wiltshaw, Robinson & Son before becoming a limited company (Wiltshaw and Robinson Ltd.) in November 1911.

The firm then became Carlton Ware Ltd. in 1958 before being taken over by Arthur Wood and Sons in 1967 and finally going into liquidation in 1989.

Attempts were made to continue production by Grosvenor Ceramic hardware but these ended in 1992.

Subsequently, in 1997, Frank Salmon of Francis Joseph Publishing acquired the Carlton Ware name and limited numbers of pieces bearing the Carlton Ware name are now available again.

Marks

Some examples of marks seen on Wiltshaw & Robinson match strikers are shown below.

Plain Match Strikers

Wiltshaw & Robinson made their rough bodied ball style match striker in a wide range of colours, some of which are shown below. These are easy to clean as the rough surface does not contain the pits (which trap dirt from the burnt matches) found in some other companies products, which would have been a selling point. There are, however, some examples with a cruder, pitted design to be found (such as the last image below). I suspect these may be an earlier design (but they could just be an occasional variation). They also made examples in other shapes such as the dome shown in the penultimate image.

Match Strikers with Vine Lead Decoration

The following match strikers all have a similar vine leaf decoration. I have also seen a tobacco jar/match striker in this pattern (similar in shape to the first example in the section below). A registered design numbers on the domed example dates them to 1898 (R^D N^O. 313737), and appears to refer to the shape of the match striker, rather than the decorative pattern as the same number is present on a dome shaped match striker with the crest of the City of Cardiff on.

Tobacco Jars & Match Strikers

Some of the Tobacco Jars made by Wiltshaw & Robinson also incorporated match strikers, either as removable parts an example is shown in the first image (R^D N^O. 330913 on the base dates this to 1898) where the match striker can be lifted off to reveal a ceramic inner lid) or on the textured side of the jar shown in the second and third images.

Match strikers with ash trays

These match striker incorporates an ash trays.The first example has the atypical pitted surface mentioned in the section on plain match strikers above while the second has the more typical rough surface. The third example might be a match striker, and might be a candle stick, I've seen it advertised as both, but can't make up my mind which it is.

Curling Stone Match Striker

I believe match striker is intended to look like a curling stone. It has a textured striking band around the center, with gilt edges and is a very nice piece. The factory also used the same 'granite' textured pattern for a more normal ball style match striker

Advertising Match Strikers

As with a number of other firms Wiltshaw & Robinson also made avertising ware to order. The example shown below dates from between 1906 and 1926, and advertises Salt & Co Burton Ale and Stout. The image was kindly provided by Brian Lennox.

Salt & Co Burton Ale & Stout

Match Striker Gallery

Wiltshaw & Robinson (Carlton Ware) (Page 1)