Paragon China

The Paragon China Company was a bone china manufacturer of tea and breakfast wares. It started life as The Star China company in 1897, a partnership between Hugh Irving and Herbert Aynsley (the great-grandson of John Aynsley the founder of Aynsley China in 1775).

The company started using the ‘Paragon’ trademark from around 1900 and the company name was changed to Paragon China Company Limited in 1919.

In it’s early days, the company exported to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In the 1930s it extended its wares to include dinner services and also started exporting to the Americas. Around this time it also started moving towards a smokeless factory by installing electric kilns.

The firm changed hands a few times in the 1960s, going from T.C. Wild to Allied English Potteries and ending up as part of Royal Doulton.

The Paragon trademark has been kept and they continue to produce designs based on the traditional floral patterns, although sadly, the early Paragon patterns books have been lost. The Royal commemorative designs are still valued by collectors and highly sought.

Over the years the company has enjoyed Royal Warrants from the British Royal Family including The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II, granted in 1953.