What is Crested China?
Small hollow off-white china ornaments, decorated with civic arms and other crests, were popular souvenirs with many people who travelled in the years immediately before the First World War, especially at seaside resorts. Crested china was typically bought on holidays or day-trips to the places on the crest, and carefully carried home. During the First World War, holidays continued to be possible at most coastal resorts, despite defensive works on, in particular, the East and South coasts and the makers began to create designs related to war time.
These china ornaments are also known as ‘Heraldic China’ or ‘Heraldic Souvenir Ware’.
Crested china statue of Edith Cavell
Model of memorial to Edith Cavell, white china, decorated with above inscription and crest of London.
Who would have owned objects like this?
These objects were souvenirs of travels that were popular with the upper working-classes and lower-middle classes.
Crested china tank from Worthing
White ceramic tank showing the crest of Worthing on the side and the words "H.M.S. Donner Ritzen Model of British Tank as first used by British Troops at the Battle of the Ancre Sep. 1916".
Design and manufacture
These ornaments were largely made in the Potteries around Stoke-on-Trent, by companies such as Arcadian, Carlton, Grafton, Savoy, Shelley, Swan, Willow Art, and (the best quality) W H Goss. The peacetime range included figurines, everyday objects, local museum antiquities, or functional items (e.g. ring trees, stamp boxes, pin trays).
With the coming of war, new designs were registered (e.g. shells, grenades and mines, ships, aeroplanes, ambulances, and military headdress – eventually also tanks). The range of military subjects was large, with the accuracy of depiction less important than the topicality of the model or its label.
Some ‘crests’ depicted on this china have been shown to be ‘imagined’ or unofficial designs.
Crested china dugout from Gillingham, Kent
White ceramic dugout with soldier inside and the coat of arms of the Borough of Gillingham, Kent on the roof. "Shrapnel Villa" is written above the entrance and "Tommies Dugout Somewhere in Fance" is written below the entrance.
Your Research
For years they were disregarded – today, collectors rate undamaged pieces highly, especially those known to have had limited production runs, be prone to damage, or where the crest links well to the subject.
Some can be dated if they show a Registered Design number. Some models also carry a name stamp of the supplying shop, in addition to the manufacturer.
Useful websites and books for further research
Website sources
There is no single web source on military souvenir china but there is an excellent book (see first book listed below)
The Crested China Company
Webpage of a specialist dealer for collectors, with many illustrated examples – choose ‘latest catalogue’ and scroll down to ‘military china’; no specific recommendation of the dealer, or of the valuations given, is to be inferred.
Books
Copies of all these books can be freely consulted from open shelves at the Explore History Centre at IWM London.
Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty: the First World War Through the Eyes of the Heraldic China Manufacturers by Robert Southall
(Milestone Publications, Horndean, Hampshire, 1982)
A well-illustrated source book, also outlines the real events behind the production of some models e.g. airships, tanks; out of print but available second-hand.
Goss and Souvenir Heraldic China by Lynda Pine
(Shire Publications, Oxford, 2005)
A general introduction.
The Collector and Researchers Guide to the Great War, Vol. II: Small Arms, Munitions, Militaria
by Howard Williamson (Anne Williamson, Harwich, Essex, 2003)
Chapter 10 by Derek Pheasant is ‘Crested China of the Great War’ p311–318; illustrated; also shows the main factory marks.
