Pottery Tableware Collectables

Tableware

There’s so much pottery in the centre, tablewares deserves to be in a category of its own!
When it comes to tableware a few big names stand out: Wedgwood, Poole Pottery, Shelley, Worcester and of course our own Hornsea Pottery.

Royal Worcestor has been a passion of mine for more than thirty years. In fact, it was my admiration for Royal Worcestor which first brought me into antiques.

The only mid 18th century porcelain manufacturer still in existence was to become the Worcestor Royal Porcelain Company. Founded in 1751 by a group of 15 men including Dr John Wall, the company was almost immediately producing porcelain wares of the very highest quality. Although, it was owned and run by many different families and companies over the next 300 years, Worcestor remained one of the most sophisticated manufacturers in terms of both their designs and the technology they used.

Much has been written about the Staffordshire potteries, but Dorset too has contributed significantly to Britain’s pottery industry. One of the best manufacturers from that area was Poole Pottery. Until very recently, Poole produced distinctive and innovative ware using a “Delft” technique which involves painting onto a white tin glaze. Whilst different potters and artists have experimented through the years with variations on this method, the elegant, modern Poole style has endured.

Hornsea Pottery have a particularly close link with Lancashire Leisure Park. For 13 years they had a factory and a visitor centre here and many local people still refer to the site as “The Old Hornsea Pottery”. Although the Lancaster site closed in 1987 Hornsea thrived where other better known potteries have failed.

Throughout its history, Hornsea Pottery continued its tradition of providing practical everyday homewares from ornaments to tablewares. Throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s, Hornsea were at the cutting edge of contemporary fashion and such pieces are of great interest to period collectors as well as Hornsea enthusiasts.

Denby is one of England’s enduring successes. While many of the Staffordshire potteries have struggled throughout the 20th century, Derbyshire’s Denby has maintained its popularity and managed to keep up with contemporary styles and needs - I’m sure there are thousands of you with pieces of Denby tableware.

Like most of the other well-known pottery manufacturers, Denby first began in the 19th century. When a seam of clay was found in 1806 in the village of Denby, local entrepreneur, William Bourne saw the potential to be part of the pottery manufacturing boom.

Each decade marked a new innovative range, which generally captured the fashion of the time. The arrival of new and creative designers ensured Denby was continually introducing fresh ideas and designs. Their current ranges, like “Imperial Blue” and “Regency Green”, are as popular as any which preceded them.