J. & G. Meakin

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J. & G. Meakin was an English pottery manufacturing company founded in 1851^[1] and based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

It was known early on (pre 1900)for the vast quantities of cheap ironstone china it produced for the domestic English market and for export to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. There appear to be certain patterns of china that were only exported to certain destinations, eg, most of the C1890-C1920 formal wares frequently only show up for sale in the USA.^{[citation needed]}

Common designs from c1930s included 'Sunshine'(referring to cream colour), 'Jacobean' (pillars on backstamp), Glamour (solid pastel wares similar to those produced by Johnson Brothers), & 'Studio'.^{[citation needed]}

From c1970 designs included 'Liberty', 'Sterling', 'Trend', 'Classic' & 'Heirloom'. Some of these were influenced from earlier designs. The newer wares can be distinguised by backstamp markings such as 'permanent colours' or 'dishwasher proof'. J & G Meakin had close family and corporate affiliations to the pottery Johnson Brothers, and Alfred Meakin, which explains why many patterns are similar, if not almost exactly the same.

The firm was taken over by the Wedgwood Group in 1970. In 2000 production under the Meakin name ceased and their long-established works, Eagle Pottery, was then used for the production of Johnson Bros pottery. Eagle Pottery closed in 2004 when production was transferred abroad in 2004; the works were demolished in 2005.