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Antique china sale and auctions in the
Antique Web!
China Lovers Heaven: The
Staffordshire Potteries -Part 2
part 1
by Mary Dessoie
Factory Tours and Shops in
Staffordshire
The Staffordshire
area is regarded widely as the world’s
home of the ceramic industry. It is best
to plan to stay for several days if you
visit this area of England.
ROYAL DOULTON
Royal Doulton is
world renowned for china tableware and
giftware and perhaps best known for the
stunning hand-painted figures that adorn
households around the globe. Here you
will have the opportunity to see the
world’s largest public display of
figures past and present. On a guided
factory tour, you can see the creation
of tableware, giftware and figures.
After the tour, you may wish to visit
the Sir Henry Doulton Gallery and
indulge any acquisitive instincts in the
factory shop. Factory tours are
available weekdays and advance booking
is recommended. For further information,
please email:
visitor@royal-doulton.com
SPODE
Josiah Spode opened
his pottery in the early 1760's and
founded a tradition of excellence that
exists to the present. This is the
oldest pottery company in England to be
still operating from its original site.
Spode is famed for its fine bone china.
Particularly known for its classic Blue
Italian china, Spode is also highly
important in the area of hand-painted
work. Why not visit Spode for a truly
unique experience. Try your skills as
decorating your own piece of pottery!
Enjoy craft demonstrations, the factory
tour and the shops. Detailed information
about tours is available by visiting the
Spode website at
www.spode.co.uk
WEDGWOOD
Most famous, perhaps,
is Wedgwood, originally based at Eturia
and now at its purpose- built industrial
village beside Barlaston. At the multimillion dollar Visitor Center, each
visitor has the opportunity to tour the
factory. Not only will you find rare and
valuable exhibits tracing the rich
history of the company, which dates from
1789, but you will experience the
production process from raw clay to
firing and decorating. You can even try your hand at the potterers wheel! Please
email for tour dates:
feedback@wedgwood.com
OTHER MANUFACTURERS
The Potteries has a
multitude of smaller potters, some well
known, such as Moorcroft, Aynsley, John
Beswick and others newer, yet equally
collectible, like Lorna Bailey, whose
Art Deco style is becoming enthused
about throughout the world. For complete
tourism information, please contact:
Stoke-on-Trent Tourist Information
Center, Quadrant Road, Hanley,
Stoke-on-Trent ST1 1RZ England or visit
their website at:
www.visitbritain.com
Antique china sale and auctions in the
Antique Web!
Mary Dessoie
covers a variety of topics in the field
of antiques and collectibles. She
founded the Butter Pat Patter
Association in 1997 for beginner and
advanced collectors of butter pats from
the Victorian through Edwardian eras and
19th-century to current-day
transportation and restaurant ware pats.
Butter pats are miniature plates that
were introduced during the mid-1800's
for individual servings of butter. A
subscription to The Patter
newsletter costs $22 ($30 U.S. for
Canadian friends) and includes a
mint-condition Royal Doulton butter pat.
Royal Doulton located in the
Staffordshire area of England is known
throughout the world as one of the
leading manufacturers of fine china. In
addition, subscribers will receive ten
issues of The Patter. Sample
copies of The Patter are
available by sending $4.00 and a LSSAE
(63 cents). For those persons who would
like to start their subscriptions
immediately and receive their Royal
Doulton pat by return mail, please send
your check or money order, payable to
Mary Dessoie, to Butter Pat Patter
Association, 265 Eagle Bend Drive,
Bigfork, Montana 59911-6235. |
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