Ridgway 1792

Q: I have a Ridgway Ironstone Meadowsweet plate  marked “Est. 1792” on the back. I note you say Ridgway started in 1808. Is this a fake? When was this plate made? Is it collectible?

A: There were several different Ridgway potteries in Staffordshire, England, run by different members of the Ridgway family. Potteries often like to use the date of the earliest factory that preceded them to indicate it is an old and well-established business. Job and George Ridgway established Ridgway Potteries Limited at Bell Works in Shelton in 1792, where they made ironstone. The year we list, 1808, is the year the first bone china was made at Ridgway. Ridgway became part of Royal Doulton in the 1960s. The mark on your plate says “detergent proof,” a term used after about 1944. Retail value about $25.