Royal Albert Old Country Roses China

Browse our collection of genuine Royal Albert Old Country Roses China for sale. If you are looking for a particular piece of Royal Albert Old Country Roses china, that is showing as out of stock, please contact us via website chat, as we may have it in stock awaiting listing.

Old Country Roses china by Royal Albert for sale

Royal Albert Old Country Roses is one of the most popular, well known and probably the best loved Royal Albert bone china patterns. The Royal Albert china pattern Old Country Roses china was introduced in 1962, and has been in production ever since. Old Country Roses features mainly the Montrose shape with its characteristic bulbous lower mouldings. Royal Albert Old Country Roses is amongst the most recognised Royal Albert china patterns ever produced.

A history of Royal Albert Old Country Roses china

Old country rose is a very popular and well-known china pattern of fine English bone china tableware, produced by the Royal Albert China Company since 1962. The Royal Albert Old Country Roses pattern was designed for Royal Albert by Harold Holdcroft and features a profusion of roses in shades of pink, yellow and red, surrounded by a delicate lattice of green leaves and stems on a white background.

Old Country Roses china pattern

The Royal Albert Old Country Roses china pattern was based on the older T C Wild china pattern called Kings Ransom. The Old Country Roses china pattern was first introduced by Royal Albert in 1962, and has become one of the most popular and recognisable china patterns in English bone china tableware. The Old Country Roses china pattern has been applied to a wide range of items, including dinner plates, teapots, teacups, saucers, serving pieces, and other accessories, making it a versatile and timeless choice for any home.

How we list Royal Albert Old Country Roses

Around 1972 Royal Albert introduced the Copyright factory marks. This makes recognising early pieces manufactured between 1962 and 1972 possible and you will see in our listings the same pieces of china listed as 1962-1972 and post 1972. In most cases the shapes and sizes are identical and beyond the factory mark its impossible to see the difference. But for some collectors, getting date matched sets is important.

Royal Albert also released large volumes of china marked as factory seconds. In most cases it is impossible to see any defects even on expert detailed inspection. Again you will see our listings identify pieces marks as seconds.  While there is no documented evidence of the rationale behind selling seconds, the trade assumption is the practice was a commercial one allowing the factory to sell into a wider market place at a lower cost, while not undermining the 1st quality sales via preferred top end retailers.

Our advice is Old Country Roses china seconds offer excellent buying opportunities and the fact it was sold and marked as a second should not deter buyers.

The final production change started around 1998 when the Royal Albert Brand, now part of Royal Doulton stable of pottery brands owned by Waterford Wedgwood and ultimately Fiskars, closed the St Marys Works Longton and started to move production to Indonesia. The final cessation of all UK production happened in December 2002

Made in England marks identifies all Old Country Roses manufactured before 1998. If its not on the factory mark, the piece is very late 20th or 21st Century.

Can Royal Albert Old Country Roses china be put though a dishwasher?

Dishwasher Safety

  1. Manufacturer's Guidelines: According to Royal Albert, Old Country Roses china is dishwasher safe, but with specific conditions:
  2. Older vs. Newer Pieces: Only the china that is marked as being dishwasher safe should be put in a dishwasher. Old pieces should be hand washed.
  3. Gold Trim: The gold edging on the china is delicate. Frequent exposure to the harsh environment inside a dishwasher can cause it to wear off. Hand washing is often recommended to preserve the gold detailing for as long as possible.
  4. Frequency: Even though newer Old Country Roses china is rated as dishwasher safe, occasional use in the dishwasher is preferable. Regular dishwasher use can accelerate wear and tear.

Can Royal Albert Old Country Roses china be put in microwave?

Microwave Safety

Gold Trim: The primary concern with placing Royal Albert Old Country Roses china in the microwave is the gold trim. Microwave radiation interacts with metals, causing arcing (sparking) and potentially damaging both the china and the microwave. The metallic gold edges on Old Country Roses pieces are not microwave safe and this can lead to sparks that could damage the microwave, potential cracking or discolouration of the china, risk of fire in extreme cases.

Heat Sensitivity: Even if the piece does not have gold trim, the bone china itself may not be designed to withstand the rapid temperature changes typical in a microwave. This can cause: cracks or breaks in the china due to thermal shock and damage to the intricate designs and patterns.

How can you tell if Royal Albert china is a second?

Indicators of "Seconds" in Royal Albert China

Look at the backstamp markings

Altered or Additional Marks: Look at the backstamp on the bottom of the piece. Seconds often have a mark through the original backstamp, which could be a scratch, a line, or a dot. This is the most common way to denote a second. In some cases, there might be additional words like "2nd" or "Second."

Missing Information: Sometimes, the backstamp may lack certain details that are present on first-quality pieces, such as a full manufacturer’s name or additional design identifiers.

Make a detailed visual Inspection

Gold Trim: Examine the gold trim closely. Seconds might have inconsistencies, such as thinner or uneven gold lines, smudges, or breaks in the trim.

Pattern and Glaze: Look for irregularities in the floral patterns or the glaze. Seconds might have:

Shape and Symmetry: Check for slight warping or asymmetry. For instance, a teacup might not sit perfectly flat, or a plate may not be perfectly round.

Check the weight and balance of the piece of china

Feel: Seconds may feel slightly different in weight or balance compared to first-quality pieces, although this is a more subtle indicator and harder to discern without a direct comparison.

Labels and tags

Stickers: Some seconds are sold with stickers indicating their status. These might say "second quality" or "imperfect."

Do a sound test

Tone: Gently tapping a piece of high-quality china usually produces a clear, bell-like sound. Seconds, particularly those with structural issues, may produce a duller tone.