Without doubt, the most puzzling of all marks.
Hand-incised with a ship and the initials “DR” for Della Robbia, and the word “Salopian” within the ship’s sail. The Della Robbia Pottery was located at Birkenhead, on the Wirral peninsula, opposite Liverpool, some 70 miles north-west of Benthall. It was in production for just 12 years, 1894–1906, and produced only art pottery.
The ship mark shown here is typical of the Della Robbia factory, with the exception of the word Salopian. This “hybrid mark” is considered by several authorities to have been used by the Benthall Pottery Company on its products. The mark has been found on only two pieces (presumably others exist), both of which are known products of the Benthall Pottery’s range of Salopian Rhodian Ware (a charger pattern No.2A,
and a baluster vase pattern No.3).
The mark suggests that a link existed between the two factories, but no conclusive
evidence has been found to confirm this.
What can be deduced, however, is a dating method for pieces of Salopian Rhodian ware with this mark – they must have been made after 1894, the year in which the Della Robbia factory first went into production.
This actual mark is illustrated in 'The Della Robbia Pottery, Birkenhead, 1894–1906’ by Peter Hyland,
(Antique Collectors' Club, 2013)