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Carlton Ware Embossed Patterns 
The Carlton Ware embossed pattern Foxglove in the yellow colour-way was my first love. It is the classic collecting story; my dear old Mum had some yellow Foxglove, I saw a couple of pieces in an antique shop and it reminded me of her and away it went. It was this infatuation with the art in pottery that first lured me to eBay way back in May 2000 and it was my discovery of eBay that led me into dealing. My tastes have since moved on, but even today a collection in a single colour-way does it for me and a collection of yellow Foxglove still makes me think of my dear old Mum. 
This is the power of a collection; a single Foxglove teapot is delight, but a collection is magical. My particular favourite patterns are Foxglove, Oak, Anemone, Buttercup, Water Lily, Hydrangea and Orchid. 
The first of the embossed patterns to make an appearance was an early version of the crab and lobster salad range. I once found a piece of this pattern at an auction here in Melbourne, interestingly it had a W&R makers mark which means it had to have been produced in 1927 or before. In circa 1932 the Fruit Basket motif was launched and the embossed patterns where here to stay. 
Image courtesy of The Parnell Collection
There where nearly 50 different patterns produced between 1933 & 1961 and most of these pattern where produced in 2 or 3 colour-way’s. The last of the embossed pattern was Orchid which went into production in 1960.During the 30 years the embossed patterns where in produced there was a shift in style. The 1930’s was the heart of the Art Deco era, by the 1950’s the style was retro. Not a huge change admittedly, but still a change.  Just compare this Night Oak biscuit barrel (above) with the Orchid Vase pictured below. The lines of the Orchid vase are just so sleek, it is so RETRO, just so very 1950’s. 
Some of the series - like Pear, Pyrethrum, Narcissus and Begonia - where only produced in 1 shape. While others where produced in a huge range of shapes is huge. For instance Apple blossom was produced in at least 60 different shapes or sizes and two different coloured back grounds. 
Image courtesy of The Parnell Collection
The embossed items that I generally carry are the more unusual items. Like the Pink Buttercup Teapot (above) or the Flower Basket Handled Posy basket shaped bowl (below). 
Many of the embossed patterns where in production for quite a long time. Apple Blossom was first produced circa 1938 and it was in production up until the 1960’s, this is also the same with Foxglove. Dating Embossed Patterns by Makers Mark There are several slight variations on the maker’s marks used on the Embossed ranges and these are handy when it comes to dating the production era. 
This maker’s mark was taken off the base of a Fruit Basket piece. The Carlton Ware Fruit Basket motif went into production circa 1932. On Embossed patterns this mark was in use from 1932 until 1934. In 1934 there is the mark that states “Australian Design Application No.10804”. I have seen several variations of this mark; it appears in some cases that the “Australian Design Application No.10804” part of the mark has been added after the initial mark was stamped on. I have found these variations on 4 embossed patterns; Anemone, Oak, Gum Nut & Rock Garden, all of which went into production in 1934. 
The Yellow example below comes from the base of an Anemone dish and the example below off a Rock Garden piece vase. It is also interesting to note that on the Yellow Anemone Dish there is a British Registration No. 786475. This number dates to 1933, this is the year the pattern was registered, not necessarily the year it went into production. 
It is generally accepted that in 1935 the “Australian Registration Applied For” mark went into use. This was the standard mark that went on all production until 1951.  In 1951 the hand painted mark went into use and this mark was in use until 1961.  In 1967 Carlton Ware was taken over by Arthur Woods, in 1975 Woods reintroduced the Apple blossom motif with 12 new shapes. This move was not a commercial success and production was halted after a short time. I do not at this stage have an example of the maker’s mark. The Patterns Carlton Ware Crab & Salad Introduced pre 1930, I believe this pattern was produced as early as 1927; I once saw and example of this pattern with a W&R maker's mark, but it was damaged so I did not buy it - comes in a light green & amber ground Carlton Ware Fruit Basket Introduced circa 1932; produced only in the 1930's, to date I have never seen an example dating later than circa 1940; green & yellow ground 
Carlton Ware AnemoneIntroiduced circa 1934; produced only in the 1930's, to date I have never seen an example dating later than the 1940; green, yellow & pink ground 
Carlton Ware Gum NutIntroduced circa 1934; green ground only Carlton Ware Oak 
Day oak Introduced circa 1934; produced only in the 1930's, to date I have never seen an example dating later than the 1940: two colour-ways; Fawn ground or Day Oak, (pattern number 3811) - Blue ground or Night Oak (pattern number 3810). 
Night Oak Carlton Ware Rock Garden or Garden Wall  Introduced circa 1934; produced only during the 1930's, to date I have never seen an example dating later than the 1940; 3 grounds - green, peach or grey ground. 
Image courtesy of The Parnell Collection Carlton Ware Lettuce Introduced circa1935 – green ground only Carlton Ware Buttercup 
Image courtesy of The Parnell Collection Introduced circa 1936 and produced at least into the 1950's; two grounds pink (pattern number 3994) & yellow ground (pattern number 3993); the pink is the rarer and so it sells for a premium.  Image courtesy of The Parnell Collection Carlton Ware Tulip Introduced circa 1937, in produicion for only a limited time, WWII at the latest; Only on cream ground – however the Tulip flowers can be found in 3 different colours, purple orange of pink. 
Carlton Ware Daisy
Image courtesy of the Margaret Jones Collection Introduced circa 1936; pink with yellow centre or yellow with a light brown centre – only produced in 3 shapes, but there is also a knife and a spoon. Small dish can still be found in original box with with either a knife (sold as a Butter Dish) or with a spoon (sold as a Conserve or Jam Dish). Carlton Ware Blackberry & Raspberry 
Introduced circa 1936 – the same moulds where used to produce both patterns, only the colour-ways varied. Blackberry is on a green ground with black berries, yellow & brown variegated leaf and a pink tinged flower. 
Raspberry was on a dusky pink ground with red berries, two tone green leaves and mauve flowers. Carlton Ware Water Lily
Introduced circa 1937, in production up until at least to the late 1950's; yellow & green ground; can from time to time be seen in a single colour - a plain pale pink, green or cream - this is war time production and the lack of colour was due to war time restrictions. Carlton Ware Wild Rose 
Introduced circa 1937, in production until at least the late 1950's; two grounds, yellow (pattern number 4427) green (pattern number 4428) Carlton Ware Crocus Intorduced circa 1937; yellow & green ground Carlton Ware Apple Blossom
Introduced circa 1937, in production at least into the late 1950's; – green & yellow colour-way. In its day this was the MOST popular, it was released in over 60 shapes and different sizes. This is another of those pattern that was produced during WWII in plain colours. In 1975 Woods reintroduced the Apple blossom motif with 12 new shapes. This has a different makers mark to the production from the 1930,s, 1940,s and 1950's. I don't have an example of this mark, but if it does Apple blossom and it does not have the Registered Australain mark then it is the Woods production of 1975. Carlton Ware Red Current Intorduced circa 1938 – green & yellow colour-way Carlton Ware Flower Basket or Springtime
Introduced circa 1939, in production at least into the 1950's – green and yellow colour-way. I have often seen this patten called "Springtime". Carlton Ware Crocus Introduced circa 1939 – green and yellow colour-way Carlton Ware Pyrethrum Introduced circa 1939 – I am not aware of this being produced after WWII; avaliable in 3 grounds - green, pink & violet; 1 shape only, a boxed Jam dish with spoon. Carlton Ware Clover (Shamrock)
Introduced circa 1939 – I am not aware of this being produced after WWII; green colour-way only Carlton Ware Narcissus Introduced circa 1939 - I am not aware of this being produced after WWII; light green ground – one shape only, a jug. Carlton Ware Begonia Introduced circa 1939 - I am not aware of this being produced after WWII – pink ground – one shape, small dish with either a knife or a spoon. Carlton Ware Campion Introduced circa 1939 - I am not aware of this being produced after WWII – 2 shapes only - a flower vase of a boxed dish with either a jam spoon or a butter knife Carlton Ware Forget-me-not Introduced circa 1939 - I am not aware of this being produced after WWII; green ground – 1 shape only - a boxed dish with either a jam spoon or a butter knife. Carlton Ware Foxglove
Introduced circa 1940 - in production at least into the late 1950's; three grounds or colour-ways - yellow (pattern number 4285) green (pattern number 4286) & apricot or peach ground (pattern number 4261); This is another of those pattern that was produced during WWII in plain colours, either a pale pink, pale green, watery yellow and I have also seen it in a dark blue. 
Carlton Ware Marguerite Introduced circa 1940 - I am not aware of this being produced after WWII – 1 shape only, a vase. Carlton Ware Clematis Introduced circa 1945 – in production at least into the late 1950's; three grounds or colour-ways green, blue & yellow ground Carlton Ware Primula 
Introduced circa 1945 – in production at least into the 1950's; 2 grounds, light green (pattern number 4368) and yellow (pattern number 4369).  Carlton Ware Cherry Introduced circa 1945 – light green & yellow ground Carlton Ware Wallflower Introduced circa 1945 – 1 shape only - sold as a box set with either a butter knife or a jam spoon. Carlton Ware Delphinium Introduced circa 1945 Carlton Ware Poppy 
Image courtesy of the Margaret Jones Collection Introduced circa 1947 – in production at least to the late 1950's; three grounds, pink, green or yellow. Carlton Ware Garland Buttercup Introduced circa 1947 – green or yellow ground Carlton Ware New Daisy 
Introduced circa 1948 – pink or pale green ground  Carlton Ware Poppy & Daisy 
Image courtesy of the Margaret Jones Collection Introduced circa 1949 – in production at least into the late 1950's; Three grounds - pink, pale green or grey ground Carlton Ware Hydrangea 
Introduced circa 1950 – in production to circa 1961; two grounds, light blue (pattern number 4449) green (pattern number 4448). Carlton Ware Lobster Introduced circa 1953 - in production until 1958 when the the Langouste pattern was introduced to repalce it; the Lobster was on a green colour-way with a bright red Lobster. Here is the issue; the red is a led paint and if you value your sanity this pattern should never be used as the red led paint was over glaze and can contaminate any food served on it. Nice to look at, nasty to use. Carlton Ware Grape 
Introduced circa 1954 – cream ground, but the trim or interior comes in 2 colour-ways, either green (pattern number 4463) or brown (pattern number 4464). Carlton Ware Hazel Nut  Image courtesy of the Margaret Jones Collection Introduced circa 1955 – 3 grounds - matt cream (pattern number 4504), green (pattern number 4505) or blue (pattern number 4620) Carlton Ware Langouste Introduced circa 1958 to replace the Lobster pattern; a two tone cream or chartreuse green ground - Cream (pattern number 4633) - Chartreuse (pattern number 4634); the lobster is done in a copper coloured pigment that does not contain lead. So if a wild culinary urge should take you, you can use your Langouste items as the copper pigment won’t contaminate your food. Carlton Ware Convolvulus or Morning Glory 
Image courtesy of the Margaret Jones Collection Introduced circa 1958 and only in production until 1961; produced on 3 grounds - olive, lavender or mauve ground. 
Image courtesy of the Margaret Jones Collection Carlton Ware Magnolia 
Introduced circa 1959 and only in production until 1961; comes in 3 grounds - cream, pink or yellow ground Carlton Ware Orchid 
Introduced circa 1960 and discountinued in 1961 - this was the end of era - the last of the embossed patterns and without a doubt one of the finest. This is a popular pattern and it is quite hard to find. Comes in three colour-ways – yellow – green of peach ground
Over the years I have sold countless pieces of Carlton Ware in almost every conceivable Embossed ranges. Sadly I have not kept the photos, so if you live in Melbourne and have a collection I would love to photograph it to add the images to this resource.
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Comments
I've got what looks like a crocus pattern full coffee set , pattern 4156 which I believe dates back to the late 1930's .
Any info on what the set could be worth would be appreciated .
Thanks,
Granny s.
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