Crown Ducal by Charlotte Rhead

AGR5

AGR5 is a very common backstamp style and can be seen on a wide range of patterns, mostly those designs also found with AGR2 and AGR7.

The patterns so far found only with AGR5 are 6564 to 6572 which are late designs probably produced after Charlotte had left Richardson’s and may not be her designs at all.

There was a change over from AGR7 to AGR5 some time after late 1940 and it continued to be used after Charlotte left when several of her patterns were still in production. I base the date on the fact that the publicity for Mexican 6189 was in September 1940 and most examples of this pattern carry the AGR7 backstamp. Also, a charger has been seen tube-lined with the date “Christmas 1940” on the base and this has an AGR7 backstamp.

To differentiate between Charlotte era pieces and post war pieces the best guide is to look for the presence of a facsimile signature as it is understood these were not applied after she had left Richardson’s.

Common patterns with AGR5 and a facsimilie signature are 4921, 5391, 5623,  5802, 5803, 5982, 5983 and 6016. It is also seen occasionally on 4016, 4040, 4298, 4491, 4511, 4511 4926, 4953, 5411 and 6017. So this list shows what was in production in 1941 up to the date Charlotte left the company. No new patterns appeared except for the Welsh Dragon and any unknown rarities that are out there.