The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Chintz. 2nd ed.

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

It’s bright. It’s fairly plentiful. It’s usually cheap, but there
can be valuable finds. It makes an eye-catching display. And its
providence includes romantic tales and sentimental memories. It’s
chintz, the perfect collectible for women who like pretty teacups.

This floral-patterned china was produced in quantity from approximately
1910 to 1960. This second edition of the Charlton catalogue covers over
160 patterns, the products of 19 manufacturers such as Grimwades (Royal
Winton), A.G. Richardson (Crown Ducal), Shelley, Wedgewood, Ridgway, and
so on. At least 20 new patterns and several manufacturers have been
added since the first edition. Of special interest to serious collectors
is the expanded section on the Shelley Potteries, producers of some of
the most interesting chintz pieces. The section of the catalogue devoted
to “shapes” serving pieces, “completer” sets, jugs, teapots, and
candlesticks has been considerably expanded in this edition.

As a reference work, the catalogue is outstanding for both the quality
and quantity of its information. All of the more than 160 patterns and
over 400 shapes are illustrated by color photographs. Backstamps are
given for each pattern, reproduced pages from manufacturers’
catalogues add further information, and values are given in Canadian,
U.S., and U.K. currency. There’s a mini-history of each manufacturer,
a comment on each pattern, and a brief, fascinating section on how the
floral patterns were achieved. Every collector of chintz will find this
catalogue indispensable.