Description
- Bottom Plate:9 inches / 23 cm square
- Top Plate: 7 inches / 20 cm
- Hand wash
J H Weatherby and Sons
he works remained operational during the Second World War under the Domestic Pottery (Manufacture and Supply) Order. In 1947 John H Weatherby was the Managing Director and J. S. Weatherby the Sales Manager.
Weatherby first made domestic ware such as basins and ewers, later moving into tableware and giftware.
In the 1950s a number of pottery companies began to make a range of animals hoping that people would go on to collect several in a set. Weatherby produced a series of sturdy comical animals which they called Zookies. An advertising leaflet from 1957 read “People who buy one, buy another and another and buy them for their friends too!”. Weatherby made Zookies into the 1960s, but by 1970 production had ceased.
They also produced such items as ‘Chuckleheads’ (cups and saucers shaped like animals), ‘Beasties’ (dinosaurs), commemorative items, dwarf figurines and tableware (including a range of small trays) often decorated with 1960s favourite images such as gonks and daleks.
In 1960 John S. Weatherby and John L. Weatherby were listed as Joint Managing Directors and J. S. Weatherby as the Sales Manager.
The company also entered the market for hotelware – which eventually contributed ultimately to its downfall from tough competition from home and abroad.
Weatherby were prolific manufacturers producing 1000s of patterns ranging from white ironstone, collectables and dinner ware through to souvenir ware and Fortnum & Mason pudding bowls.
From 1975 to 2000 Weatherby also produced ware for the American importers JONROTH. The pieces are mostly not marked Weatherby, but carry the JONROTH mark alone. JONROTH took the last order produced by J. H. Weatherby & Sons in April 2000
In April 2000 the company chairman, Christopher Weatherby, the great-great grandson of company founder John Henry Weatherby, announced the winding up of the company. At its height the company employed 200, but the figure was down to 50 in 1999 and stood at 10 at the time of closure.
After the closure of J.H.Weatherby in 2000 Jonathan Weatherby took over producing for JONROTH, working with a very limited staff at the Falcon Pottery – operating as a decorator under the name of Jonathan Weatherby at Falcon Pottery.
