Poole Pottery
oole Pottery, founded in 1873 in Poole, Dorset, has had problems over the last few years that culminated with the company going into administration on the 20th December 2006. This was a blow for the workforce, the town and the many collectors of Poole Pottery.
On the 10th February 2007, the company was bought by The Lifestyle Group Ltd., which also owns the Royal Stafford Pottery. However, although the retail outlet in Poole will survive, Lifestyle is planning on downsizing the factory and moving parts of the manufacturing to Stoke.
New Products
Amongst the new products recently added to the website is a beautiful Belleek basket.
Belleek baskets are instantly recognisable and are second to none. William Henshall, who came from Staffordshire, where parian baskets are known to have been made from
as early as 1863, introduced basket and flower modelling to Belleek. The manufacture of baskets is complex with the parian ingredients ground before being mixed with gum arabic in place of the water used to produce the slip for other products. This produces a dough-like mixture which is kneaded as though it were bread and beaten to remove any air. Once ready for use the ‘dough’ is placed in a container that works like a mincemeat machine and turns the ‘dough’ into threads resembling spaghetti.
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Modelling is a painstaking process. First the base of the basket is made, woven from two, three or four strands of clay at a time. The base is then placed on a plaster of paris mould and the lattice of side strands laid in place. The basket is finished off with a twisted ribbon of strands and is ready to take the applied flowers, which are all hand-made.
Diary
Over the next three months we have booked a stand at the following Antiques & Collectors Fairs:-
- April 1st: May 6th: June 3rd – The Grand , The Leas, Folkestone, Kent – 9am until 4pm
- April 8th & 9th – Brentwood Centre, Doddington Road, Brentwood, Essex – 10am until 4pm
- April 14th: May 12th: June 9th – Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill, Rye, East Sussex – 9am until 4pm
- May 27th & 28th – Ramada Hotel, Maidstone, Kent – 10am until 4pm
- June 22nd, 23rd & 24th – Kedlestone Hall, Derby – 9am until 5pm
If you are in the area, please come in and see us. If there is anything you would like us to bring with us, please let us know. You can contact us by email at: carano@btinternet.com
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