Poole Pottery Brochure 2023

150 YEARS OF POOLE

To mark our anniversary, join us in celebrating 150 years of vibrantly creative pottery #PoolePottery150

The story of Poole Pottery began in 1873 when Jesse Carter bought a tile factory on Poole’s East Quay near to the local deposits of Dorset clay. Famous for its purity throughout the world, the ware created from this clay became one of the most important, most distinctive, and most collectable of the twentieth century British ceramics. Through the emerging skills for hand painting, Poole established the name and style that we know today. As Poole Pottery’s reputation grew, some of the UK’s most prolific visionaries, designers, and ceramicists were drawn to collaborating with the skilled craftspeople that worked within the Poole Pottery team because of the unrivalled vibrancy of colour and ideas.

Each painter in Poole’s history was encouraged to mark their work as their own- each piece can still identify its painter by an individual mark on the foot next to the backstamp. This autonomy and creative ownership gave rise to the embrace of different creative movements throughout its 150 years. Most notably, in the 1920’s, patterns emerged using a combination of abstract florals, geometric patterns, and stylised wildlife creating the Art Deco style that established Poole Pottery as a modernist, recognisable brand throughout the world.

The inclusion of living glazes within the Poole repertoire at the turn of the century was celebrated, giving rise to the distinctive fiery red colour palette and reaffirming Poole Pottery’s reputation as an innovative, individual, and experimental British Pottery. Re-engineered 24 years later, 2023 welcomes in a new era of contemporary red hues to celebrate 150 years of covetable vibrancy.

HORIZON DESIGN

Poole pottery has an extensive history interlaced with hot red glazes and deep cobalt blues. Bringing these powerful colours together marks a new era of Poole design.

Poole Pottery has had a long and successful history working with living glazes to depict natural scenes, flora and fauna. Horizon is the culmination of experimentation, mixing reference points from Poole’s wonderous archive with a contemporary palette of colours. To realise this vision, a brand new contemporary red glaze was developed. This new formulation creates fireworks when layered with oranges and teals; the living glazes combine to reveal never before seen combinations of colours- from violet and lilac to seafoam and cobalt.

The curve that divides the surface of our earth from its sky, the horizon evokes an almost primaeval response within us. A crucial reference point for sailors and maritime navigators the world over, the setting sun meeting the sea have spawned hundreds of tales in mythology and folklore throughout human history. Capturing the shimmering bursts of colour created by shafts of sunlight playing on the ocean surface, Horizon celebrates this most rousing of natural experiences.

The collaborative nature, and creativity in the design studio that accompanied the development of Horizon is evident in every piece. Realised through the combination of expansive materials knowledge and artistic expression, Horizon makes a bold statement in both giftware and homeware.

HORIZON

Capturing the shimmering bursts of colour created by shafts of sunlight playing on the ocean surface, Horizon celebrates this most rousing of natural experiences.

Birds (Mixed Pair) 644040069

Perching Bird 644010065

Purse Vase 26cm 644010007

Manhattan Vase 26cm 644011009

Purse Vase 20cm 644010006

Hourglass Vase 34cm 644010021

Manhattan Vase 36cm 644011010

Bud Vase 12cm 644010031

Tortoise 644011091

Big Fish 644011088

Owl 644011093

Hourglass Vase 24cm 644010020

Fish (Mixed Pair) 644041090

OUR GLAZES

Using expert knowledge gained over years of experience layer upon layer of living glazes come alive in our handpainted designs. Bold, beautiful and each one truly unique.

Maya, Celestial, Ocean and Horizon have at their core specially designed glazes which give each pattern its own character and personality. This extensive glaze knowledge has been gathered over Poole Pottery’s 150 years of creating beautiful and collectable ceramics. The glazes are applied by hand spraying, using a variety of techniques. The control of each glaze, how thick it is applied and merged with other glazes is all in the hands of the expert sprayer. A fine mist of glaze is applied one coat at a time until the perfect thickness is achieved. Effects can also be created by the sprayer to produce textures and dappling by altering the density of the glaze mist or applying layers of different colours before and after hand painting.

The glazes used for hand painting are also specially created to react with each other in the heat of the kiln to produce spectacular effects. Every piece is painted by hand, the decorating colours layered on top of one another, creating patterns and effects unique to Poole Pottery. The skilled hand painter selects from a library of different shapes and size of brush in order to achieve the desired result. It has also been known for these artisans to adapt brushes by cutting into the hairs to give them exacting control over application. These colours are applied at different thicknesses to give the beautiful striking effects that the designers have created during the development process.

When all the layering of glaze is complete, the pieces are sent to the kiln. The magic and intricacy of this skilled application is realised in the fires of the kiln; the heat driving each glaze to react with its neighbour to give the unique and dramatic patterns synonymous with Poole Pottery.

CELESTIAL

Capturing the movement of celestial bodies moving through the night sky in contrasting and contemporary colours; each piece of Celestial is as unique and mesmerising as the stars in it.

Hourglass Vase 24cm 633010020 Birds (Mixed Pair) 633040069

Fish (Mixed Pair) 633041090

MAYA

Inspired by British landscapes, the stunning green and blue tones of Maya represent the earth meeting the sky in a natural yet bold design.

Purse Vase 26cm 631010007

Manhattan Vase 26cm 631011009

Purse Vase 20cm 631010006

Manhattan Vase 36cm 631011010

Bud Vase 12cm 631010031

Dish 12cm 631010059

Hourglass Vase 34cm 631010021

Hourglass Vase 24cm 631010020

Tortoise 631011091

Maya Perching Bird 631010065

Birds (Mixed Pair) 631040069

Fish (Mixed Pair) 631041090

Big Fish 631011088

Owl 631011093

OCEAN

Stimulating all the senses, Ocean is decorated with beautiful hues of blue Living Glazes; evoking images of cool, calming waters and rolling tides.

Birds (Mixed Pair) 643040069

Perching Bird 643010065

Purse Vase 26cm 643010007

Manhattan Vase 26cm 643011009

Dish 12cm 643010059

Purse Vase 20cm 643010006

Hourglass Vase 34cm 643010021

Manhattan Vase 36cm 643011010

Bud Vase 12cm 643010031

Tortoise 643011091

Big Fish 643011088

Owl 643011093

OUR PROCESS

Poole Pottery can only be created by the skill and craftsmanship of its makers. The process of hand casting, spraying and painting makes each piece of Poole Pottery unique

Every piece of Poole is cast by hand from English earthenware clay into moulds made from soft plaster. The plaster draws in moisture from the clay, creating a firm layer against the inside profile of the mould. The excess clay is then poured away and recycled, leaving a fine hollow form. These clay pieces are then sponged smooth by hand and gushed with a coloured glaze. They are then taken to the kiln and fired for the first time at over 1000°C to turn them into bisque ware.

Following this firing, the shapes are inspected for quality before entering the design studio. Here the bespoke coloured base glazes are sprayed on by hand. The design is then painted, layering one colour onto another, to create the unique and dramatic effects Poole is renowned for.

Once complete each item is returned to the fire of the kiln for the final time during which the heat reacts with the layered glazes and develops rich individual colour palettes. Every Poole piece is supplied in a stylish gift box, perfect for giftgiving and storage.

OWLS

A new addition to the flock for 2023, Owls are synonymous with wisdom and prosperity, perfect for gifting on any occasion.

GIFTING

Colourful, unique and handcrafted in England; Poole animal ornaments and vases come gift-boxed, making the perfect birthday, wedding and thoughtful thank you gift.

Horizon Big Fish 644011088

Horizon Perching Bird 644010065

Celestial Big Fish 633011088

Celestial Perching Bird 633010065

Maya Big Fish 631011088

Maya Perching Bird 631010065

Ocean Big Fish 643011088

Ocean Perching Bird 643010065

Horizon Tortoise 644011091

Celestial Tortoise 633011091

Maya Tortoise 631011091

Ocean Tortoise 643011091

Horizon (Mixed Pair) 644040069

Celestial Birds (Mixed Pair) 633040069

Maya Birds (Mixed Pair) 631040069

Ocean Birds (Mixed Pair) 643040069

Horizon Fish (Mixed Pair) 644041090

Celestial Fish (Mixed Pair) 633041090

Maya Fish (Mixed Pair) 631041090

Every piece of Poole Pottery comes with a beautiful gift box

Burgess and Leigh, Middleport Pottery, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 3PE

Telephone: +44 (0)1773 740740

Email: customer.services@burgessandleigh.co.uk

@poole_pottery @Poole_Pottery /poolepotteryltd