Numbering system

The vast majority of Gray’s Pottery patterns was designated in one of two series:

using a four-digit number
using the letter ‘A’ plus a four-digit number

However, no patterns have yet been seen which are less than 100 (the lowest recorded so far is 427) or less than A100.

The ‘A’ prefix appears to have been introduced in 1932 when, theoretically, 9999 had been reached – note that the highest four-digit number recorded so far is 9726. When A9999 had been reached, in about 1955, new series were introduced using a range of other prefixes such as: B, D and S.

Research shows that some pattern numbers had a suffix which, usually, indicates a colour variant of a basic design – see patterns A8515 or A9339 as examples. This practice appears to have started in the mid-1940s and continued throughout the 1950s. Note that this is different from a paintress’ suffix which usually comprised alphabetic characters but which also, occasionally, was a number.

The conclusion of current research can be summarised as follows:

Predicted Range	Likely Usage	Actual Patterns	Date(s) Used
100-999	All	900	Up to and including 1915
1000-1999	All	1000	1916-1920
2000-2999	All	1000	Early 1920s
3000-3999	None	None	N/A
4000-4999	Up to 4745	800	Early to mid-1920s
5000-5999	Up to 5577	600	1925
6000-6999	up to 6017	20	End of 1925/Start of 1926
7000-7999	All	1000	1926-1928
8000-8999	All	1000	1928-1930
9000-9999	Up to 9726	800	1930-1931
A100-A999	All	900	1932
A1000-A1999	All	1000	1933-1935
A2000-A2999	All	1000	1935
A3000-A3999	All	1000	1936
A4000-A4999	All	1000	1937-1938
A5000-A5999	All	1000	1938-1939
A6000-A6999	Up to A6018	20	1939
A7000-A7999	All	1000	1939-1945
A8000-A8999	All	1000	1945-1951
A9000-A9999	All	1000	1951-1955
B100-B9999	'Random'	100	1950s
D100-D9999	Up to D2684	2700	1950s-1962
S100-S9999	From S1500-S1600 plus isolated numbers	200	1950s
TOTAL PATTERNS		19040

Small quantities of patterns with other prefixes have been recorded but with little information and examples it is difficult to know how extensive these ranges were. They include:
C – seven numbers known (C133, C511, C583, C655, C1640, C1701 and C1999)
F – seven numbers known (F104, F105, F106, F113, F121, F127 and F131), all seen on William Kent figures. The ‘F’ may simply signify a figure.
K – one number known (K2059), on a 1950s stoneware casserole dish.
M – one number known (M1481) on a 1950s plate which exists as a boxed set with a small, matching ceramic-handled knife.
T – one number known (T225/5), on a square tile. The ‘T’ may simply signify a tile.
Y – three numbers known (Y1923, Y1925 and Y9339), all are resist patterns on a yellow ground, so ‘Y’ may signify yellow.