(pronunciation: as spelled, no difficulties)
Location: England
Like many porcelain manufacturing companies in England, Coalport has been in business for many years (over 200) and has had a number of owners and production facilities, with varying success. Their current products include dinnerware and porcelain figurines. Coalport is known for its many series of female figures in varying styles of costume, some modern, but most in older, more elegant fashions. At present there seems to be only two lines of porcelain figurines in production, all others having been discontinued. However, members of the discontinued series are still available from gift shops and china shops, so if you haven’t purchased that special one, it may still be available. However, I would get it soon, as this may not be the case forever.
The porcelain produced by Coalport is on par with other English manufacturers. A white body, hand painted with under glazes, covered with a clear final glaze and fired to a hard, shiny finish. The many lines of female figures are obviously aimed at women, and for men to buy as gifts for women. Each figurine has a name within the series. The original prices run from $60 to $300 from what I can see, and they retain about 1/2 to 2/3 of their original price on the secondary market.
My opinion: Fairly mundane production. If there is a figurine that especially speaks to you, buy it (at discount from MSRP) and display it. I will probably never own any Coalport, not being interested in the human figure or female costumes.
Product lines:
FIGURINE SERIES IN PRODUCTION
Coalport Annuals: annual figure (formal gown), Christmas figure
Heart to Heart: formal gowns (modern to 1950s, a few with hats)
DISCONTINUED LINES OF FIGURINES
Age of Elegance: original prices: $75-250, secondary market about 2/3 of original price (produced mid 1960s-early 1990s)
Anamalier (resin)
Arcadian Collection (produced circa 1985)
Ascot Ladies (produced circa 1984)
Ballet Shoes (produced circa 1990)
Barnardo (produced circa 1993)
Basia Zarzycka (produced circa 1997)
Battle of Waterloo (military figurines, produced circa 1990)
Beau Monde: original price $125-145, secondary market prices 2/3 of original price
Birthstone Collection (produced circa 2004)
Birthstones: fairly modern dress, one for each month of the year
Bride of the Year (produced circa 1993)
Brides (produced circa 1981)
Catherine Cookson (produced circa 1999)
Cavalcade Of Clowns (produced circa 1986)
Celebration Of The Seasons (produced circa 1999)
Chantilly Lace (produced circa 1991-1993)
Character Collection (pie maker, shepherd, etc; produced in the early 1980s)
Characters from Shakespeare (produced circa late 1970s-early1980s)
Children of the Week: presumably seven in total (produced circa 1989-1991)
Children Studies (produced circa 1979-1980)
Classic Elegance: formal evening gowns (modern)
Coalport Cottages
Couture Collection (ladies in period dress, produced circa 1990)
Debutant (produced circa 1975)
Debutante of the Year (produced 1992-2000)
Designer Series (produced circa 1986)
Early Days (produced circa 1985)
Edwardian Beauties (produced circa 1987)
Edwardian Garden Party (produced circa 1996)
Elegant Edwardians (produced circa 1977)
Empress Collection (produced circa 1996)
English Rose (produced circa 1998)
Epic Story (produced circa 1997)
Egyptian Busts (produced circa 1977)
Expressions Of Love
Fabled Beauties (produced circa 1993)
Fairest Flowers (produced circa 1993)
Famous Shakespeare Rolls (produced circa 1980)
Fairytale (produced circa 1999)
Femmes Fatales (produced circa 1991)
Fye Whittakers Childhood Memories (produced circa 1996)
Gem Collection
High Society
Ladies Of Fashion
London Heritage (produced circa 1980-1985)
Moments (produced circa 2002-2004)
DECORATIVE PLATES
Christmas Plate (1976-1979)
Frosty Mornings (produced circa 1994)
Spirit of the Turf (produced circa 1992)
Still Life Fruit
Twelve Days of Christmas (1979-1990, 1 per year)
Working Horses (1994)
PAST POPULAR DINNERWARE PATTERNS
Canton
Willow: blue or multi-color
Hong Kong
Hunting Scene
Indian Tree in many colors
Paddington Bear
Ming Rose
CURRENT DINNERWARE PATTERNS
Much like any other china producers. See official site or your nearest fine department store.
Prices: Fairly reasonable, given exchange rates. Buy on the secondary market from a seller who allows returns if not satisfied.
Collector’s Society: None mentioned. With the reduction of volume of production, clubs may arise to provide chances to exchange or buy/sell figurines in discontinued lines.
The official company site is: www.coalport.co.uk
History
Coalport was established in 1795 by John Rose (aged 21). Rose had trained at Caughley China, which was the first manufacturer to use transfer printing to decorate china dinnerware. Transfer printing uses etching to produce the pattern on paper, which is then immediately transferred onto the china blank. With etching plates for each size plate, bowl and cup, this process allows all pieces of china in a pattern to be exactly the same. The first pattern produced by this process was the ever popular Willow pattern.
Competition, coalition, and changes of ownership eventually led to the single factory at Coalport, and the name of the porcelain. In 1820, Coalport developed a new feldspar china with a lead-free glaze, followed by a porcelain paste formula acquired with the purchase of two factories from South Wales. Coalport had varying success over the years, depending on the economic circumstances facing all the china producers, and its reliance on its own patterns (success) or copying the patterns of others (less success). It regained premier status at end of 19th century, but the 20th century again saw a rise and fall in reputation. Coalport was sold in 1925 to Cauldon Potteries Ltd., and its production facilities were moved for the final time to the Potteries district of Staffordshire. The factory in Coalport is now a museum where examples of Coalport China’s production can be viewed. Since 1967, Coalport China has been part of the Wedgewood Group and continues to reproduce some of original Coalport patterns.
See the article in Wikipedia for more detailed information about the history of Coalport China. There are also books about this china manufacturer available.
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Read more about porcelain collectibles.
I have brouch with three flowers, one pink, two are slighty different blues,three pale green leaves. Coal Port China Made in England PATAPP9FORN22013G/49 I am not sure on these numbers as they are very small.Could you tell me something of this brouch. Thankyou.
I hate to be suspicious, but the space between “Coal” and “Port” and the inclusion of “China” makes me think this is not the British Company Coalport. There are also the letters “FORN” in the patent application number, which trouble me. Made in England means just that, but it is possible, strange as it seems, that the brooch was made in England for a Chinese company.
The brooch sounds pretty. I would wear when possible and enjoy it, but do not bank on its having any value beyond your affection for its looks.
I hope this helps.
I have a Coalport ladies of fashion figurine named Kate. I received it as a child of an aunty of mine and was just trying to find anything out about it, age, value etc. She has a maroon color dress on with pink gloves and a pink fan looking thing in her hair.
If anyone could give me some information it would be great
Thank you
Leanne
The Ladies of Fashion figurines named Kate apparently came in a number of colors. I did not see one with gloves. If this is the same figurine, “Style Three” can be purchased from Replacements, Ltd for about $100, although the original price is $175. This may mean there is another version of Kate with gloves. (At replacements.com, go to the Collectibles tab, select C, and then Coalport, then Ladies of Fashion. Kate is listed in the top half dozen figurines.)
I hope this answers your questions.