This page shows the base markings of a Crown Ducal Charlotte Rhead designed pot. 

It is a shape number 148 , twin handled vase in the Granada pattern, number 3321. It has the Charlotte Rhead facsimilie signature in the style of Violet Barber, (TL-B), who performed the tube-lining work. The backstamp is in the style AGR9 which will help date the manufacture of the pot. It also carries the pattern number 2801 (which is incorrect!) and the paintress mark of 46.

The paintress (46) has marked the pattern number incorrectly as 2801 - Perhaps this shouldn’t be too surprising since the colour palette of 2801 is similar to Granada 3321. She may have been working on decorating both patterns that day.

In this case the shape number has been tube-lined over the incised number 148

The backstamp style is what I call AGR9. It is found on the earliest examples of Charlotte’s work at Crown Ducal. The youngest pattern numbers I have seen with this style are 3321 Granada and 3636 Padua. Granada was extensively advertised in early 1935 and was reported as new in February 1934. Whereas 3797 Hydrangea which was described as a new pattern in February 1935 has not yet been seen with this backstamp. Therefore this item of pottery was probably made sometime between late 1933 and early 1935.

The facsimilie signature is in the style of the tube-liner Violet Barber. Items with her signature are not very common but there are equally divided between examples with backstamp styles AGR1 or 9 and AGR2. so this dates her time working with Charlotte in the years 1934 and 1935.