Simply click on any image below and the full-sized photograph will open in a new page - make sure the new pop-up page is then maximised to show the photo in full. Please respect that all images remain my intellectual property and may not be reproduced without my express permission. In some cases the pictures are actually pretty cruddy and I need to re-take them in a better light ;o) So bear with me (I just need to find the TIME!)

Dinner Set Pieces - Plates, Bowls etc

     

First up are the round plates, which is where most people start their collection. There are five sizes of plates - the small bread and butter plate, at about 16.5cm in diameter (I have seen these marked with shape number "5"), a Supper plate at about 18.5cm in diameter, then the Entrée plates which are about 21.5cm in diameter. After that comes the Luncheon plates at 24cm, and then the Dinner plates at 26cm.

This is the smallest of the bowls - I personally call this a condiment dish and at approximately 13cm in diameter and somewhat shallow at about 2.5cm high, it's the perfect size for sauces and condiments etc - I have several of these for use when hosting a large dinner party and have been told they also come in other sizes

    

I call this a "lipped" or edged bowl but some would say it's a dessert bowl or fruit bowl. It's the prettiest of the bowls I think with the little fluted edge. It comes in a variety of sizes (thank you to my friend Judy for giving me such info on these as well as the photos showing all the different sizes!)

First of all the "shallow" versions. These come in (diameter x depth):

16.25cm x 4cm (6.5" x 1.5")

21.5cm x 3.5cm (8.5" x 1.375")

24cm x 4cm (9.5" x 1.625")

26cm x 4.5cm (10.5" x 1.75")
 

For those with any to sell, I still need 6 of the 26cm size please!!!

Then of course there's also the deep 24cm diameter version which becomes a Tureen when you add a lid (see below)! The shot above shows the Tureen, the 21.5cm version and also the 16cm to show the different depths.

    This is the smallest, 16cm version which stands approximately 4cm high.

  

Pictures here show the middle size (21.5cm in diameter, about 3.5cm high) lipped bowl on the left, and then the second shot shows it standing next to its little, deeper 16.5cm diameter sister by way of comparison.

    

Here's the Lidded Tureen - most people use this both for Vegetables (so it would be called a Covered Vegetable Dish) as well as for Soup but there was also a separate specific Soup Tureen (see below under Rare Pieces). Without the lid I have also seen this sold as a Large Fruit Bowl but it shouldn't be confused with the much shallower bowl of the same 24cm width. The Tureen base measures approximately 24cm in diameter and stands 6.5cm high, while the lid is about 20cm in diameter. An essential piece for Dinner parties - most people need at least two.

  

This is more of a regular cereal bowl, still really lovely and deeper than the other bowls. It measures approximately 15cm in diameter and 4.5cm high. My Royal Doulton Identification Guide actually officially identifies this shape as an "Oatmeal Saucer" which is interesting, and I have seen them with the shape number 5 printed as a back stamp.

 

This is the larger of the bowls - I and many others refer to this as an Oatmeal bowl however it's different to what Royal Doulton sell currently as an "Oatmeal Bowl" - the Royal Doulton Identification Guide I have actually calls it a "Porridge Plate" so I guess that's what I should call it too! It measures approximately 19cm in diameter and 3.5cm deep.

 

Just a photo to give you an idea of sizes - the large shallow bowl on the left and the small deeper cereal bowl on the right

 

And another shot to give you an idea of sizes - moving clockwise from the large Oatmeal bowl on the left, up to the small cereal bowl, the lipped bowl and the small condiment bowl at the bottom

  

The beautifully elegant Soup Coupé with matching Under Saucer. I originally wasn't going to have these in my collection but once I had one I was hooked - they're such a wonderful shape. The only downside is they're really hard to store ;o) But I think good to have if you're going to use your Tureen for Soup! They measure about 12cm in diameter and stand about 7cm high, and the matching saucers are 17cm in diameter.

          

I love the shape of the Gravy Boat here and you often see these just on their own as decorative jugs.  I have, so far, come across four different variations of Gravy Boats in three distinctly different shapes (please scroll to the end of the page under "Rare Pieces" to see the rarest), and therefore also, I'm assuming, three different shapes of Saucers specifically designed to match them (I've only ever seen two). Pictured above is the most commonly found shape with a rounded handle, in two pattern variations - one with a white band to the rim and the other with the patterning all the way to the edge.

This is the standard shape of Gravy Boat, but with the patterning all the way to the top, and a more Art Deco style handle, similar to the one in my Rosslyn collection.

Above you can see the round saucer for the "standard" gravy boat. These are quite hard to find and measure about 17.5cm in diameter, with a 7cm centre indentation. They're so lovely, with 18 specific "pleats" around the centre as you can see.

 

This is the rarer shape of Gravy Boat - larger than the regular one, with the pattern right to the top (which is flat instead of fluted), a rope handle and a more "squat" shape. Gorgeous!

And this is the different shape of under-dish for the larger Gravy Boat. It almost looks like a side/bread and butter plate but measures about 18cm across at the widest points, with the centre diameter about 11cm wide.

The delightfully named "Astor Celery Tray" - I love that they can be so specific! This measures approximately 23cm x 11cm and as you can see there are at least two different versions that I'm aware of...mine has the gilding around the scalloped decorative area each side and in the centre, but not around the very outside of the plate. There is also another version that has gilding around the outside and inside but not on the decorations. Probably also more that I haven't yet come across!

I have seen these called a Strawberry Plate but really it's a salad or vegetable strainer (Royal Winton call these a Cress Plate), and I believe they are supposed to come with an underplate - I have seen the large, square plates used for this purpose as I have photographed here, as well as the large dinner plates, and can't confirm what they were originally meant to be teamed with. These are exactly like an oatmeal bowl but with strainer holes set into it, and measure 19.5cm in diameter and 4.5cm deep. As shown, they come with both plain and fluted edges.

I have only seen this dish come up for auction a couple of times and then it was just referred to as a "Deep Serving Dish" which measures approximately 23cm x 16cm and 3cm deep.

       

Serving Platters! Another essential piece if you're like me and actually occasionally use your set. These came in three sizes - small (28cm), Medium (34cm) and the large Turkey Platter at 39cm. From what I've been told, the Small can be as hard to track down as the Large - I am so lucky to have all three. I strongly suspect there may even be a smaller, 26cm size out there as I have one of those in the Royal Doulton Rosslyn set and have never seen anything made in Rosslyn (except footed egg-cups) that I've not yet seen replicated in English Rose.

For one of the smallest pieces of the collection, the humble Egg Cup is also one of (annoyingly!) the most expensive when you can find them! It took me ages to find mine, and I'm still needing 2 of the "footed" versions so if anyone has them to sell then please do contact me through the Facebook page!

 This is the standard and more easily found egg cup, measuring about 5cm tall and 4.3cm across the top diameter, really sweet. I have seen these stamped with shape number "4".

 And here's the harder to find 6cm high "footed" version which I suspected for a while might exist (as I have the same shape in my Rosslyn collection) but it took me a while to locate some in the UK. I still need 2 more for my set!!

Tea Set Pieces - Cups, Teapots etc

The pride and joys of my collection - the stunning teapots have been my most enjoyable pieces to find but worth every cent I paid. Note the differences between those with the beautiful rope-patterned gilding on the handles and the rose patterns that go right to the edges as compared to the plain handles with the white band around the top of the rose pattern. Of course they also made the matching milk jugs with different handles and patterning so it's nice to have some that match!

From my experience when consulting with other collectors, the standard shape of teapot (shown above) came in 4 heights (this is measured from the base to the top of the lid as accurately as possible) - 13cm (which is about 15cm wide from spout to handle), 14cm (about 18cm wide from spout to tip), 16cm (about 19cm from spout to tip) and and 18cm (23cm from spout to tip). So then if you factor in plain handles and rope-patterned handles for each that's potentially 8 different teapots available in this shape alone (this makes me tired just thinking about it!)

These are my two medium sized teapots which measure approximately 16cm high from base to top-of-lid, and 19cm wide from handle to spout at the top. I feel a bit self-indulgent having two actually, but as one has the plain handle and one the rope handle I just had to have both!

 

Here's a closer view of the plain handled medium teapot - I'm so lucky to have found one in such truly immaculate condition...looks never to have been used.

        

And here are some closer shots of my rope-handled medium teapot, again in immaculate condition.

  

 My absolute pride and joy, the Holy Grail of my Collection, the "Baby Teapot" or Teapot for One which took me years to find...since then I've seen a few come out of hibernation for auction but still less than 10 total that I've seen. The photo on the right shows it in comparison to the Largest Size of this shape of Teapot and I find them just gorgeous when displayed this way (like a Mother and Child!).

This is my second-to-smallest teapot which is apparently also really hard to find, so please give me a shout if you're lucky enough to own this size too, just so I know there's another out there somewhere! It measures approximately 14cm high from base to top-of-lid, and 18cm wide from handle to spout at the top. Mine's not in the most immaculate condition, with a few small chips and surface cracks, as well as some crazing to the glaze, but I love it all the same. It has the plain handle.

 The Largest of all the teapots, this impressive piece is 18cm tall and I LOVE mine - I don't think it's ever been used and I'm not about to start!

I adore this one simply because up until I found it I didn't know this shape existed and I find it exceptionally lovely even though it's quite plain compared to the others - very Art Deco in styling. My Royal Doulton Identification Guide calls this shape the "Joan" teapot (I do like to name my teapots!). It has a large number 30 actually carved into the base next to the stamp so I'm wondering if that makes it one of the earlier pieces from 1930 - it certainly seems to match the footed milk jug and sugar bowl (see rare pieces at the bottom of the page). It stands about 13cm high and then it approximately 19.5cm from handle to spout.

  

Here is the gorgeous Coffee Pot, a slightly hard to find piece but again well worth having. It stands approximately 23cm high.

   

 The gorgeous Hot Water Pot - one of which I've finally managed to track down for my collection. Apparently these were made in two sizes, 22cm and 24cm - mine's the 24cm version. Of course these both also came in different styles as well (mine has a plain handle) so of course the hunt never ends!

I'm so embarrassed as it was only just pointed out to me by a wise friend that this large 21cm high "teapot" (so I thought) is actually another coffee pot :o) She worked it out because of course it has no strainer holes at the inner base of the spout - totally logical when you look at it that way! Regardless, I adore it - just so elegant and beautiful. Again this one has a rope handle. My Royal Doulton Identification Guide has a drawing of a very similar one and they call the shape the "Cecil Coffee Pot" - I'm guessing this is the same one.

 

This is the hot water pot with the rope handle that matches my coffee pot above - I really love all my rope handled pieces, they look so pretty together as you can see. It's just under 20cm tall all up, including the handle, and a rounder shape than the other hot water pot, with a slightly more pointed spout.

   

There are, I believe, four different sizes and styles of cups - the traditional teacups which stand 7cm tall with an 8.5cm top diameter (have seen these marked with shape number "3") and have 14.5cm wide saucers, the smallest demitasse cups for the coffee set which stand 5.5cm tall, have 6cm diameter FLUTED tops, and 11.5cm wide saucers, the larger demitasse cups which are basically the same shape as the teacups but smaller - they measure 6cm tall with 6.5cm ROUND tops and have 11.5cm wide saucers, and then also the large Grandfather cups which are 8cm tall with 16.5cm wide saucers.

My photo here shows the standard (non-fluted) shape in all three sizes from Grandfather down to demitasse.

As you can see, you can have fun finding different ways of displaying your Duos and Trios - I especially love the teacups displayed like this, with a Bread and Butter Round plate and then a Square Sandwich plate at the base.

 

Pictured here is a traditional teacup on the left with the small demitasse cup on the right - very cute (and I need more of the fluted demitasse cups and saucers to make up my sets if anyone has them please!)

     

These shots show the difference between the two sizes of demitasse - for the longest time I had only ever seen the version on the left and didn't even know that the smaller, footed one on the right even existed! I can't decide which one I like better :o)

I have so far managed to document 5 different sizes and shapes of Sugar Bowls and there are possibly more!

     

This is the most commonly found shape, showing the different between large and small.

    

This is the largest of the sugar bowls at about 11cm wide x 6cm high, with patterning that went either to the rim or had a white band as shown here.

The smallest of the bowls at 8.5cm wide x 5cm high, which, again, came in two pattern styles as per the large size, as well as in versions that have either a plain round top or a slightly fluted-edge as shown on the right.

This size was a surprise to me, located by accident after several years of collecting, and I've yet to see another. It's just slightly higher and wider than the small sugar bowl (shown here with a small bowl either side), at 9.5cm wide x 5cm high. Mine has the patterning to the edge and a plain round rim - I'd love to know if it came with the white band pattern or a fluted rim as well.

  

This is another rare shape of sugar bowl - it measures about 10cm across and 7cm high making it taller, by 1cm, than the larger diameter 11cm version (pictured with it here in the photo on the right), so a completely different shape altogether.

See also the rare footed sugar bowl towards the bottom of this page, under Rare Pieces

Milk Jugs and Creamers! Since I've started collecting English Rose it's slowly sunken in just how many potentially different styles of jugs there actually are - not only do you have all the different shapes and sizes, but then some come with plain handles and some also with rope handles, and - like the sugar bowls - some have patterns that run right to the very top rim of the jug while others have a white band around the rim before the rose pattern starts.

Make sure you also check the rare dual-handled jug towards the bottom of this page, under Rare Pieces

  

Far and away my favourite shaped jug - look at the lipped spout on this, it's divine! I inherited this in the Rosslyn pattern and couldn't rest until I also found it in English Rose. One of the rarer little jugs, and it stands about 10cm high.

  

This seems to be the most common shape for the milk jugs but comes in a variety of sizes and versions as you can see - I have it in 13cm, 10cm and 9cm versions so far (see below for pics of each individually) so the mind boggles at how many there are potentially! I love the stout shape :o)

 

This is the largest of the jugs in my collection at 13cm high (and 14cm wide from spout to handle) - it looks like you'd use it in a Breakfast Set, for pouring milk onto cereal etc. Note the white band at the rim before the floral pattern begins, unlike the smaller versions below.

These shots show the 10cm high (and 11cm wide from spout to the ridge on the handle) versions I have - both have rose patterns that go right to the rims but one has the rope handle and the other has the plain handle - good for me as I now have different ones to match each teapot!.

  

And closer shots of the individual 10cm jugs.

  

This is the creamer that most people seem to have, it just seems to be the most commonly found size in my experience, and stands about 9.5cm high and 10cm wide from spout to the ridge on the handle.

  

This is the different size of creamer, being thinner than the regular size and with a small, footed base -I am wondering if it is made to go with the Coffee Pot? It stands about 9cm high and 8.5cm wide from spout to the ridge on the handle.

  

In the same shape as the 9cm version above, this is my second favourite size jug - my version has a lot of crazing as you can see but I LOVE it as it's only 7.5cm high, and 7cm wide spout to handle, and SO cute! When I bought it online, not knowing the size, I actually assumed it was the same as the one above (only with the rope handle, thus making it very desirable to me to match my teapots!) so when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a whole new "species". Really, really sweet! The first shot shows it next to its Big Sister above. I have since acquired the same size with the band at the rim, like the 9cm one above - will photograph ASAP.

Add to those sizes above, I have now learned of another size that this design comes in - a fellow collector has the two shown above that are 8cm high and 7cm wide spout to handle, each with a slightly different sized top band and transfer.

This is the Rectangular Cake Plate which measures approximately 21cm x 18cm. Like the rectangular sandwich plate, the pattern on these can vary - the version on the left has the large rose sprays centred on each side of the plate, whereas the other features two sprays each on the longer sides. I have seen these backstamped with the shape number "7979".

Purists probably don't like me calling this a Cake Plate as in reality I believe it's supposed to be the under-saucer for the Soup/Vegetable Tureen. But it makes a GREAT Cake Plate and that's usually what you see it being sold as! As you can see, there are two different versions that I've seen - the first has what I call "Angel Wing" gilded handles while the second has a more swirly print, almost rope-like. They measure approximately 23cm x 25cm (wider at the handles)

The Rectangular Sandwich serving plate which measures approximately 27cm x 13cm. There are two different designs available in this as shown in the photo on the right - note how the top plate has the roses centred, while the bottom has them spread about. The larger rectangular cake plates have the same variation.

 

My favourite of the plate shapes - the Square Sandwich plate which is harder to find than the round plates. It comes in two sizes - 15cm in diameter and 20cm as seen here. I've included it in the Tea Set as I think that's more where it belongs than as a Dinner Piece.

Decorative Pieces

Many of these pieces with the exception of the pin dishes are harder (some VERY hard) to find than the standard plates and cups but well worth the hunt to add something special to your collection

   

One of my favourite pieces - there's just something so aesthetically pleasing about this shape! This is the square Bon Bon dish, shown here in all three sizes - 9cm (style 8015B), the middle 10cm size (style 8015A) and the largest 11cm size (style 8015). As you can see they even look nice nestled inside one another!

 

Most people (including me!) refer to these as pin dishes although strictly speaking I'm sure they're supposed to be butter pats and certainly work well for that when in use at a dinner party. They measure about in 10cm diameter and as you can see came with a rounded edge, less often found, or the more commonly seen fluted edge on the right.

I LOVE this piece - a little double sided, divided Bon Bon dish (I've also seen this described as a Nut Dish or Jam Dish and all seem appropriate). I find it so beautiful that I even bought one in the Royal Doulton Roses (D5533) version as well when the opportunity presented itself! It's about 16cm x 7cm (in the centre). Great for putting jewellery in, in my humble opinion :o)

This one is really lovely - a scallop edged Bon Bon dish (or I suppose it could be for nuts etc?) with a fluted edge.

As you can see there are two extremely similar versions, both of which measure approximately 14cm x 12cm in diameter, but they have different edges.

 

Another favourite piece of mine - a little Scallop Shaped Bon Bon dish that measures approximately 13cm x 11cm in diameter

  

I adore this one - it measures a little bigger than a regular pin dish at 10.5cm fluted side to fluted side and 13cm from tab side to fluted side, and the scalloped edges are a little more pronounced than a pin dish. Like a cross between a pin dish and the scallop-shaped dish as you can see in the picture on the right. GORGEOUS!

Rare Pieces

Here are some very scarcely-found pieces that have rarely or never come up for auction on eBay for example, and which I'd love to find for myself one day!

I am grateful to Steve Patching from The China Bay in the UK for confirming the above is definitely a butter dish as opposed to a cheese dish, as the cheese dish - if one existed - would be wedge shaped.

I'd almost resigned the Salt and Pepper shakers to the vault of "they never existed" until a wonderful lady emailed me a photo of her salt cellar (many thanks, you know who you are!). A lucky friend was then later also able to track down a pair of them, and I love being able to document them here and hope that one day I can find a set for myself. As you can see they appear to use the same mould as the egg cups and feature wooden stoppers, painted cream.

The toast rack - I am only aware of 3 of these in the hands of all the many collectors I know, and thank you to my friend who sent me these photos of hers. Isn't it absolutely gorgeous? My friend describes it as being very delicate to hold so you can see why they are now so scarce. The Backstamp dates this one to 1941.

I love this too - I've NEVER seen one of these before, a milk jug with a dual, roped handle. It measures 11cm from spout to handle and 9.5cm at the spout which is the highest point. Something to look out for! You can see the size comparison in the photo below:

Another super-rare piece that I only saw for the first time after I'd already been collecting for a decade. It's a sweet little gravy boat, measuring 13.5 cm from spout to handle and 7cm at the highest point which is the handle. Again, you can see a size comparison with the regular gravy boat in the photo above. I adore the shape. Thanks again to my friend who sent me these, lucky, lucky lady that she is!

  

I really love this shape of dish - have only seen one come up on eBay a few times. Very Art Deco, almost hexagonal with little cut-out decorative tabs at the sides. Measures about 17cm x 14cm, and so lovely!

 

This little piece is a covered Honey or Jam Pot (am wondering if it also came with an English Rose ceramic spoon?)

The lucky owner of this stunning little piece calls it a Covered Sauce Bowl - I am in love with the rose shaped top handle and find this just exquisite - again I wonder what the matching spoon was supposed to be like

     

The Covered Soup Tureen is distinctly different from the more commonly seen Vegetable Tureen pictured earlier, and I have seen two different designs - the second doesn't have the gold band on the lid that the first one does. What it does have, however (and hugely excitingly!) is the almost mythical matching ladle, AND the under-dish! The specs provided were that the Tureen itself is about 29.5cm across the handles, the under-plate 30cm across, and the ladle about 31cm long.

 

These are apparently older pieces in the collection - a footed sugar bowl and milk jug which make them quite distinct from the more commonly found flat-based versions. My jug is dated at 1941. The sugar bowl measures about 11cm across the top and stands about 6cm high. The jug is 11cm high as well as 11cm across from spout-tip to handle.

Non-Original Pieces

I've included photos of a few pieces here that were never part of the original production run of English Rose and which instead have been rather creatively made by companies such as Replacements.com and other manufacturers. I do get squeamish at the thought of perfectly good Dinner plates - or even WORSE the Square Sandwich plates - having holes drilled into them to make them, but I can certainly see why they'd appeal to people, they're very pretty. I do want one of the clocks they made - I'd sacrifice a plate for a clock to hang in my office :o)

The ones shown below are all reproductions but (and again thanks to Steve from The China Bay!) I am told there probably are original versions of the tiered and single-handled cake plates out there, given the era English Rose was being produced and the fact that (to paraphrase what Steve helpfully told me) at that time Afternoon (high) tea and tea shops were very popular and these plates would have been just the way they would have served cakes and other sweets. So I live in hope and assume the way I'll be able to tell is when I see one where the back-stamp is off-centre to the handle, and not drilled through? Another Holy Grail to add to my list :o)

 

This is the Cheese Dome with separate glass cover and metal base (2nd picture)

     

The tiered Cake Plate which is available in single (so is that then still tiered?! lol!), double and triple layer versions

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