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 Royal Crown Derby Porcelain is the ultimate name (granted by Queen Victoria in 1890) for what was originally simply Derby Porcelain, founded in 1747 by Andre Planche and soon partnered with the famous William Duesbury in 1756. In between the two appelations, the name Crown Derby applied when King George III granted permission for Derby Porcelain to incorporate the crown into its porcelain mark.
William Duesbury, followed by the second and then third edition of his name, was remarkable in English porcelain history to have eventually merged Derby with Chelsea in 1770 and Bow Porcelain in 1776 - both companies being acquired and keeping the Derby name, although there was a brief period when products were known as "Chelsea-Derby".The Derby legacy greatly benefitted from the closing of the Chelsea works and the importation of workers and equipment.
When William II died in 1797 at the premature age of 34, Michael Kean, who had married into the family, took his turn at managing the company. His tenure saw the business decline in stature, losing the services of several talented artisans. Click here to see Derby Porcelain Marks.
William Duesbury III emerged just prior to the turn of the Nineteenth Century to assume control of Crown Derby, with Kean splitting off a piece of the business and moving elsewhere. The arrival of Robert Bloor in 1811 led to a resurgence of Crown Derby In 1877, businees was so good that the company opened a new factory at Omaston Road in Derby, which still is in operation today.
In 1964, Royal Crown Derby was bought by S. Pearson and Son to become a member of the Allied English Potteries Group. In yet another merger, Royal Crown Derby now absorbed Royal Doulton Porcelain, which was already the property these new owners.
Today, the Royal Crown Derby factory employs over 300 people, still operating on Omaston Road in Derby, but also having offices throughout the UK, the USA, and elsewhere.
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