It would now appear that six different marks were used during the production on Westminster Fine China. The first was based on Westminster Abbey and was almost always in applied in gold, with gold numbers added separately. These numbers varied in size and style. I have then placed the Words Only mark next as it appears to fit in the sequence here, but may change if other evidence comes to light. The third mark was a stylised crown and is almost always in black and was stamped onto the item. The fourth is a stylised crown over a W, the fifth is this crown over W surrounded by a circle, and the last is the fifth mark but in negative like form. These all appear to have been marked after glazing. In addition, there was the short lived use of the Rembrandt mark.
There are also different countries listed on the back. Initially blanks were bought from Japan. About 1993, the country of origin of the blank had to be marked on the back and so we see Japan, China and Taiwan occurring under the Westminster mark. As far as can be ascertained, no items were decorated in these places - it is simply the origin of the blank.
Dating pieces
This short list attempts to place a date on pieces. It is incomplete and it needs to be remembered that early souvenir pieces often used the same shape and number at different times. However, I have listed pieces that are datable and hope that this may be of some use. I have also listed unumbered pieces that have a date on them with the marking, so that a range for marked pieces might be established. There are some conflicts in this list when I have added dates that I have been advised that they were bought, it may well be that older pieces were still in stock!
1954 - Start of production and presumably the first use of number 1
1954 - Abbey mark used until about 1962 (letter from W Rogers of 13 Aug 1996)
1956 - Pattern 169 known to have bought this year
1958 - 128, heart shaped plate, advertised in 3 Dec 1958 Australian Women's Weekly
243, 12 piece 'Harlequin Hostess' tennis cup & saucer set in 5 Nov 1958 Australian Women's Weekly
282, 12 piece 'Domino Hostess' tennis set, advertised in 3 Dec 1958 Australian Women's Weekly
300, set of four ashtrays with playing card symbols, advertised in 3 Dec 1958 Women's Weekly
301 trio with English wildflowers, advertised in 3 Dec 1958 Women's Weekly
312, Trio, advertised in 3 Dec 1958 Australian Women's Weekly
333, 18 piece 'Emperor' trio set advertised in 5 Nov 1958 Australian Women's Weekly
1959- 276, 12 piece 'Hostess' (6 cups and saucers) set, , with guarantee stickers in 6 May 1959 Australian Women's Weekly
316, 12 piece 'Harlequin' coffee set (6 cups and saucers) in 6 May 1959 Australian Women's Weekly
341, Trio, pink rose on white (6 cups, saucers and plate) set, harlequin shades in 6 May 1959 Australian Women's Weekly
352, cup and saucer with 'Mother' in gold and floral design in 6 May 1959 Australian Women's Weekly
1960 - 15, souvenir dish, Chadstone Shopping Centre opening in October
243, 12 piece 'Harlequin Hostess' tennis cup & saucer set in 27 January 1960 Australian Women's Weekly
1961 - 2297( Abbey mark in 2000/3000 series) marked as 12 Oct 1961
1962 - Crown mark introduced (letter from W Rogers 13 Aug 1996)
1969 - Pattern 996 was bought this year
1970 - Crown over W mark introduced (letter from W Rogers 13 Aug 1996)
1970 - approximately 1970, Crown over W mark with new Westminster typeface introduced (letter from W Rogers 13 Aug 1996). This was
probably when the Crown over W in Circle mark was introduced.
1971 - 850 can be positively dated to this year
1977 - Crown over W in circle mark seen on Scout Jamboree piece issued for 1976/77 Jamboree
1984 - Crown over W in circle mark seen on St John's Heidelberg piece issued in 1984
1988 -Crown over W in circle mark on Jenolan Caves Sesquicentenary plate issued in 1988
1989/90 - Crown over W in circle mark on Bradex ' The Smithy' plate
1993 - Country of origin of blank was now required to be placed on markings, so any items with a foreign country shown are later than this
1994 - Crown over W in negative mark on G2535 and G2549 Towabba Art items both dated 1994
In addition to the main marks, there are a number of variations that seem mainly to be used when Westminster made items for other suppliers. Some of these are shown under the 'OTHERS" drop down listing, and more will no doubt turn up. Basic dating can be assumed from the style of Westminster mark that is used.
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