Collecting heraldic porcelain miniatures, or crested china as it is now popularly known, became a national craze in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. During the period of it’s production, around 1880 to1930, it is thought that around 90% of all homes contained some pieces. Indeed, no holiday or seaside outing was complete without the purchase of some piece of souvenir porcelain. The introduction of Bank holidays in 1871, paid holidays for workers and improved wages, combined with improved travel facilities such as trains, paddlesteamers and charabancs, boosted the sales of souvenirs considerably. During the 1880’s the pottery firm of W. H. Goss of Stoke-on-Trent produced a new line – miniature souvenir wear for Queen Victoria’s jubilees, and for pupils of public schools. Then the eldest son of the Goss family, Adolphus, hit on the idea of making miniatures of famous antiquities that could be seen in museums all over the country, and decorating them with relevant coats of arms. Soon agents were able to order any of the shaped models with their own respective local arms. Thus a national craze was initiated. By the mid 1890’s Goss were also producing miniature cottages, teasets, crosses, animals and fonts.
