The Dorothy Ann China Rose Brooch

Dorothy Ann Bone China Brooch

Should it be the classic red rose? I don't think so. Petals with buttermilk highs and saffron lows are a much smarter buy. You can don jade green, damson purple, crimson red, royal blue or the soft caramels of Autumn’s essential camel coat: this golden beauty will flourish on every lapel.

The details on the back? Dorothy Ann. China. Made in England.

Dorothy Ann | CHINA | MADE IN ENGLAND

In 1954, the Dorothy Ann pottery was listed in Stoke. After that I believe the name became part of Crown Devon. Was Dorothy a real person? A 50s glamour puss? Dot with a penchant for polka dot? Or is this a brand name created by a copywriter (damn those copywriters)? Google is not my friend on this point.

However, I do know that this is the most quintessentially vintage piece I own. Oh yes, it’s mine. Found in a charity shop a few weeks ago for £1 (in international currency: less than a Starbucks espresso). It emerged from a glass cabinet with its petals full of dust and neglect. Just a little gentle attention with a soft brush and soapy water brought those delicate yellows and shiny glaze back from history. Dot, you’d be proud.

News Just In

We've had a message through our Facebook page from Lynn Stephens, who tells us her aunt painted pieces for Dorothy Ann in the 40s or 50s. Lynn says:

"My mum died seven years ago and it was her sister Nell Johnson who did the painting based at home. I have a few pieces including two or three that haven't been glazed or had fixings applied. I digress! Nell Johnson nee Hill was born 1911 or thereabouts. She worked as best gold gilder for Doulton until her back gave in. Hence her work from home. My mum described Dorothy Ann as wearing bright red lipstick (strange what sticks in a child's mind). I believe it that her real name as she was spoken about.  I was only 8 - 10 years old though."

Many thanks to Lynn for this nugget of information about the actual Dorothy Ann. I just knew she'd have bright red lipstick...

Another update from March 2020, Alan H Roberts has emailed from the Fieldings Crown Devon Collectors Club - he says:

Hello Angela,

I run the Fieldings Crown Devon Collectors Club (fieldingscrowndevonclub.co.uk) and have been researching the internet looking for data etc relating to Dorothy Ann. I came across your web site and I noticed your comments about Dorothy Ann (“In 1954, the Dorothy Ann pottery was listed in Stoke. After that I believe the name became part of Crown Devon. Was Dorothy a real person? A 50s glamour puss? Dot with a penchant for polka dot? Or is this a brand name created by a copywriter (damn those copywriters)? Google is not my friend on this point”).

The answer to your question as to whether the Dorothy Ann you refer to was a real person, the answer is “Yes” but she had nothing to do with the Dorothy Ann company that produced china brooches. Whether there was another Dorothy Ann who gave her name to the brooch company I do not know and the name could be that of the company or indeed a brand name as you suggest. Regarding the “Crown Devon” Dorothy Ann, an entry at Companies House in respect of Crown Devon gives her date of birth as August 1953, a bit too young to be associated with the Dorothy Ann china brooch company.

From around 1998 she was employed by DNW Ceramics (of Stoke). DNW Ceramics is the company that bought the name “Crown Devon” after the Fielding company closed and are notorious for producing fake Crown Devon. Although they legitimately owned the name Crown Devon, they knowingly created a backstamp so close to an original that their intention was to deceive having previously done the same with pottery from Sylvac and others. Under the Crown Devon name, they used moulds from Brentleigh, Burton Ware, Carlton Ware, J. Fryer, Sadler as well as Crown Devon, all marked with the fake backstamp. Dorothy Ann, along with Bernadette Eve, D Norman and Ty Will were the named painters for DNW Ceramics.

In 2005 I published a booklet “The Backstamps of Fielding’s Crown Devon” which although it reviews the marks used by the Fielding (Crown Devon) company contains a chapter on the fake backstamps used by DNW Ceramics. This is still available on eBay and I have no problem with copyrights should you wish to quote me. By the way, brooches by Dorothy Ann do appear on eBay from time to time.

To end, I must say that I do not use any Social Media platform so I could not make contact that way.

Best wishes,

Alan H. Roberts,
Fieldings Crown Devon Collectors Club. 

Invitation to Comment

I lay down the gauntlet to all you vintage gals: find another piece of floral china jewellery, at £1 or less, and come back and tell me all about it.

What about your family pieces, what heirlooms do you treasure?

Lovely comment emailed by fellow copywriter Lorraine Thompson 

(Blogger would not let her comment through!) 

Thanks for another wonderful post.

Wow! Your rose brooch is a find. I LOVE that it's yellow, rather than a more ubiquitous red.

I have several old vases embellished with similar roses. I must say, however,  mine are worse for wear. The delicate china flowers chips so easily.

Your brooch's perfect condition speaks to its cherished status over the years, making it all the more precious today.

I'm lucky to own oodles of costume jewelry collected from 1920 onward by my magpie grandmother. Among my favorites pieces, however, are two carved and painted bird pins.

They are made of the simplest materials: wood and safety pins, but their delicate craftsmanship makes them exquisite.

And they come with a sad story: They were made during World War II by my grandfather's business associates, Japanese businessmen incarcerated in California during the War. (A shameful footnote to our country's history)

All the best,

Lorraine

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