What is the History of Royal Albert Bone China?
The Royal Albert brand was officially established in 1904, but its origins can be traced back to The Albert Works, which was founded in 1896 by Thomas Wild and his sons. The Albert Works specialized in producing tea, breakfast, and dessert pieces with beautiful floral designs, and it quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality china. The company was named in honor of Prince Albert, who was born in 1895 and named in memory of his great-grandfather, the famous Victorian Albert.
During the 1930s, Royal Albert bone china saw a significant increase in popularity due to the growing prosperity of the British public. People were willing to invest in luxury items and Royal Albert's striking floral designs and elegant shapes caught the attention of consumers, particularly women.
Over the years, the designs grew more modern but continue to maintain their uniquely British aesthetic. To this day, Royal Albert remains one of the most sought-after china manufacturers, with its rich history embedded in each piece.
Shop serving pieces made with Royal Albert's Lady Carlysle.
How Is Royal Albert Bone China Made?
Royal Albert Bone China comes from a high-quality biscuit porcelain, made from a mixture of kaolin, feldspar, and animal bone ash. The china is glazed twice, fired at incredibly high temperatures, then finished with intricate hand-painted designs or delicate transfers to create beautiful pieces that are perfect for any dining occasion. The unique manufacturing process creates an exceptionally strong yet fine-grained china that is resistant to fading and daily wear and tear, ensuring that you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite pieces for many years to come.
Royal Albert's success can be attributed to its ability to keep up with changing trends and its reputation for producing high-quality china and crystal products.
Well-Known Royal Albert Bone China Patterns
Royal Albert’s most well-known patterns are the classic florals, which feature a variety of flower species and intricate, often playful designs and unique cup and handle shapes. Without a doubt, the most popular pattern is the Old Country Roses. The other two mentioned below, Lady Carlysle and Flower of the Month collection, are just two of our favorites. 
Old Country Roses
Old Country Roses, Royal Albert's signature pattern, was launched in 1962 and has become well known for its association with elegant British tea parties. The design, featuring burgundy, pink, and yellow roses against a background of lustrous gold banding, was inspired by the colorful blooms of an English country garden. Today, Old Country Roses is one of the most recognizable and iconic patterns in the world.
The Lady Carlyle
The Lady Carlyle Collection, a classic example of Royal Albert's romantic and floral heritage, is inspired by the extravagant rococo styles of the 18th Century. It features a highly stylized floral design in bright, bold colors, a deep pink border, and elaborate gold scrollwork. The Pink Lady Carlyle pattern, in particular, has remained one of Royal Albert's most popular designs. It's a striking and elegant addition to any tea party or table setting. They're not easy to find.
Flower of the Month
The Flower of the Month series is a popular collection of teacups produced by Royal Albert. The series features 12 different teacups, each with a different floral design and color scheme to represent a different month of the year. For example, the January teacup features a snowy white and blue color scheme with a design of snowdrops, a type of flower that typically bloom in the winter. The February teacup has a red and pink color scheme with a design of violets, which are associated with the month of February.
Each teacup in the series is made of fine bone china and is decorated with intricate, hand-painted floral designs. The Flower of the Month series is a beloved and collectible part of Royal Albert's product line, and it is often sought after by china collectors.
Conclusion
Looking to add a special Royal Albert piece to your collection?
- Shop an ever revolving assortment of Royal Albert teacups in our Vintage Teacup Collection
- Check out which Flower of the Month sets we have in stock before they're snatched up!
