Aynsley

Convolvulus Demitasse                                     

                                                                  Floral Cup, Saucer and Plate

John Aynsley II opened the Portland Works in Stoke-on-Trent In partnership with Samuel Bridgwood in 1861. He changed the company's focus from pottery to china using fine bone ash that led to very strong, translucent, exceptionally white fine bone china. The partnership with Bridgwood ended in 1863, but the business expanded as John Aynsley II acquired Portland Pottery and the New Hall works. He entered local politics to become Mayor of Longton from 1886 to 1890.
John Aynsley retired in 1880. and his son, John Gerard Aynsley, took over management. 

In 1897, Queen Victoria commissioned Aynsley China to produce a set of tableware to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee and this allowed Aynsley China to use the royal family seal in its logo. More recent commissions from royalty include sets for Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales. Kenneth Aynsley became Proprietor in 1924 and John Aynsley and Sons became a public listed company in 1948. J Michael Gillow, Kenneth Aynsley’s son in law, became Managing Director in 1959 and  J Michael Aynsley joined the business in 1961.
The company was taken over by Waterford and renamed Aynsley China Ltd in 1970. Kenneth Aynsley remained a Director until his death in 1975.  Aynsley China Ltd became a part of the Belleek Pottery Group in 1997 but continues to manufacture in its own right.