Ironstone china

[5] Ironstone in Britain's Staffordshire potteries was closely associated with the company founded by Mason following his patent of 1813,[1][6] with the name subsequently becoming generic.

[7] The strength of Mason's ironstone body enabled the company to produce ornamental objects of considerable size[8][9] including vestibule vases 1.5 metres high[10] and mantelpieces assembled from several large sections.

[13] His father, Miles Mason (1752–1822) married the daughter of Richard Farrar, who had a business selling imported Oriental porcelain in London.

Subsequently, Mason continued this business, but after the East India Company ceased the bulk importation of Oriental porcelain in 1791 he began to manufacture his own wares.

[15] Subsequently other manufacturers produced ironstone,[12] with James Edwards (1805–1867) of the Dalehall Pottery in Staffordshire also credited as its pioneer.

[20] In the 1860s, British manufacturers began adding agricultural motifs, such as wheat, to their products to appeal to the American market.