[download pdf=”https://www.museumofroyalworcester.org/app/uploads/2016/03/Egg-coddler-patterns.pdf” content=”List of Royal Worcester Egg Coddler Patterns”]
There is no record of when egg coddlers were invented or who was the first to manufacturethem, but they started to become popular in Europe in the late 19th century. The first knownWorcester coddlers were made at Grainger’s China Works in the 1880s. They were made ofearthenware, fired at a very high temperature. They were sold plain white or decorated witha single coloured, printed pattern such as Willow or printed birds. Very early coddlers have aflat cover without the ring handle.
A large set of Royal Lily pattern egg coddlers, (also called Kitchener Pots), were used onboard the Imperial Yacht of the last Tsar around 1900. The duch*ess Eggs, as they were called,were the standard first course on Sunday nights in the Baltic, prepared for the Tsar’s sister, theduch*ess of Saxe-Coburg.
From 1910 until 1928 Egg Coddlers are recorded in the Royal Worcester factory ledgers as‘Premier Egg Cups’, perhaps relating to their high-class associations. They are usually markedwith the patent registration number 561564, the most popular Royal Worcester designs being,Worcester Willow and Pekin.
In 1931, a new material, Fireproof Cooking Porcelain was used to make coddlers and otherOven-to-tableware items. This true hard porcelain was developed by Royal Worcester to resistthermal shock.
Most Royal Worcester coddlers are made in two sizes, standard and King size, howeverbetween 1973 and 1988 a larger ‘Maxime’ size was also produced in some designs.
Dating and marks
The marks on the underside of coddlers are very difficult to date, they do not vary very muchbecause of the small size of the coddler base.
1890–1902
Early Grainger coddlers are marked with a Grainger shield mark and a year letter (A=1891 toL=1902).
1902–1930
Royal Worcester examples made between c.1902 and 1930 have a Royal Worcester mark andthe word Crownware printed in a ribbon or the words ‘Royal Worcester Vitreous’.
1931–c.1950
From 1931 the marking is usually the words Royal Worcester England printed in straightlines in green.
1950–1983
From the 1950s a scrolled W inside a circle was used with the words Royal WorcesterPorcelain, Made in England in black.
From 1983
A standard Royal Worcester mark in black was used on all coddlers.
From 1991
In addition to the factory mark you will find two pairs of small numbers in grey or white. Thefirst pair is the printers number, the second pair of numbers indicate the year of manufacture ie 55-97 = 1997, 46-01= 2001
Patterns
A very large range of patterns have been used to decorate Royal Worcester egg coddlers.Most of them are lithographed tableware designs, however plain coloured coddlers and handpainted coddlers (signed by the artist) were also made in the years between the two worldwars. To date over 100 different designs have been recorded.
FAQs
Royal Worcester used a set of dot markings, starting in 1891, where the number of dots on either side of the crwon or among or below the words of the backstamp indicate the year of manufacture of the piece. The number of dots indicate a the year of manufacture of the piece.
How to use Royal Worcester egg coddlers? ›
Butter the inside of the egg coddler and the lid. Beat the egg with parsley and chives, season to taste with salt and pepper and pour into the coddler. Screw on the lid and stand in a pan of boiling water taking care that the water level only reaches halfway up the coddler. Simmer for approximately 10 minutes.
Can you put Royal Worcester egg coddlers in the dishwasher? ›
Cleaning. Caring for your egg coddler is fairly easy, and surprisingly they can be washed in the dishwasher.
What's the difference between coddled and poached eggs? ›
It's similar to a poached egg. The difference between a coddled egg and a poached egg is that a poached egg is made by cooking the egg directly in the cooking liquid, whereas a coddled egg is cooked in a small dish (usually a small ramekin) instead.
Is Royal Worcester valuable? ›
Priced £100 to £12,500. Discover the exquisite beauty of these antique royal worcester, where each piece tells a story of masterful craftsmanship and timeless elegance. ROYAL WORCESTER FIGURE "PADDY" IRISHMAN, JAMES HADLEY,1881 ...
How do I identify my Royal Worcester pattern? ›
The Royal Mark
The Royal Worcester marks were first introduced in 1862, when the business restructured and became common place in 1867. These marks also incorporated the number 51 inside a crescent within a larger circle, with the crown just above. From 1876, the crown attached to the circle itself.
What is the point of a coddled egg? ›
An uncracked or “whole coddled egg” is an uncracked egg gently cooked in boiling water for a very short amount of time to reduce or eliminate bacteria. This type of coddled egg is commonly used for homemade mayo, dressings, and sauce where a raw egg is called for.
Is Royal Worcester still made? ›
Part of the Portmeirion Group since 2009, Royal Worcester remains in the luxury tableware and giftware market, although production in Worcester itself has ended. Tea canister, about 1768, Worcester porcelain factory V&A Museum no. 1448&A-1853. The Worcester Royal Porcelain Co.
When were egg coddlers popular? ›
There is no record of when egg coddlers were invented or who was the first to manufacture them, but they started to become popular in Europe in the late 19th century.
How do you use a vintage egg coddler? ›
To use, you would crack an egg into the coddler, screw the top on and then place it into a pot with water to cook. It's a very simple process to coddle eggs and the results are delicious, especially when serves with warm buttery toast.
Royal Worcester Evesham Gold Dinnerware Set | 16 Piece Dish Set with Vibrant Fruit Motifs | Service for 4 | Made from Porcelain | Microwave and Dishwasher Safe.
Can you put Royal Worcester in the oven? ›
Some Royal Worcester porcelain is oven safe, however, any pieces with a gold band should not be placed in the oven. Royal Worcester porcelain can withstand a temperature of about 120C. Please note that oven mitts are recommended when handling and that the porcelain should never have direct contact with a flame.
What is the French word for coddled egg? ›
A traditional French dish, oeufs en cocotte (or coddled eggs) makes for an elegant and nourishing breakfast, brunch, lunch or starter.
What liquid does a chef coddle eggs in? ›
The usual method for coddling eggs is to place them into a pot of simmering water, where they steam until set. We add the filled ramekins to the pot and then pour boiling water around them.
What is the meaning of coddler? ›
: to treat with extreme or excessive care or kindness : pamper. accused the court of coddling criminals. colleges that coddle their athletes. coddler. ˈkäd-lər.
Are egg coddlers good? ›
I also like soft boiled eggs, but eating them out of the shell is a mess. I know they look cute in egg cups, but they really aren't that easy to crack the lids off and eat. But beyond the actual cooking, egg coddlers are also wonderful for developing endless egg variations.
Is an egg coddler the same as an egg cup? ›
Cousin to the egg cup is the egg coddler, a larger device made to prepare and then enjoy baked, or coddled eggs in. Says What's Cooking America: “An egg coddler is a porcelain or pottery cup with a lid that is used to prepare a dish called coddled eggs.
What are the sizes of Royal Worcester egg coddlers? ›
Cook and Drink
- The Standard Size was designed to prepare one egg. It nominally measures 6½ centimeter from the base to the top of the cup, but there can be considerable variation. ...
- The King Size was designed to prepare two eggs. It measures 8 centimeter from the base to the top of the cup.
The addition of letters, dots and asterisks are the main identifiers you should look out for, which will be found below the circle.
- 1916 – * under circle. 1917 – * plus 1 dot. ...
- 1931 – 2 linked circles. 1932 – 3 linked circles. ...
- 1942 – 3 circles 10 dots. ...
- 1949 – V. ...
- 1954 – W plus 4 dots. ...
- 1959 – W plus 9 dots.
There is no record of when egg coddlers were invented or who was the first to manufacture them, but they started to become popular in Europe in the late 19th century. The first known Worcester coddlers were made at Grainger's China Works in the 1880s.
Early Worcester Porcelain marks are rarely seen - it is a blue crescent mark that typically dates pieces back to the 'First' or 'Wall' period (1751-1783). Due to their rarity, these pieces are highly prized and usually only found amongst collectors.
