Poole Pottery Brochure 2025 by burgessandleigh

OUR STORY

Each piece of Poole Pottery is as unique and individual as the next, with layer upon layer of reactive glaze to create Poole’s vibrant and bold decoration.

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 plus 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.

KEYSTONE VASE

The distinctive character of the new Keystone vase shape takes its inspiration from a vase produced in the 1960’s, simply called ‘vase No 25’. The oval conical shape creates a perfect surface to hand decorate and the raised foot gives the vase a presence, making it a statement piece.

Celestial Keystone Vase 26cm 633011094

150th Keystone Vase 26cm 645011094

Maya Keystone Vase 26cm 631011094

Horizon Keystone Vase 26cm 644011094

Ocean Keystone Vase 26cm 643011094

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.

Vase 26cm 644011094

Vase 20cm 644010006

644010007

Bud Vase 12cm 644010031

Vase 24cm 644010020

Vase 34cm 644010021

Vase 36cm 644011010

Perching Bird 644010065

Purse Vase 26cm

Manhattan Vase 26cm 644011009

Purse

Hourglass

Manhattan

Tortoise 644011091

Big Fish 644011088

Hourglass

Keystone

Every piece of Poole Pottery comes with a gift box

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.

Purse

Purse Vase

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

OCEAN

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

Keystone Vase 26cm 643011094

Dish 12cm 643010059

Hourglass Vase 34cm 643010021

Birds (Mixed Pair) 643040069

Bud Vase 12cm 643010031

Purse Vase 20cm 643010006

Purse Vase 26cm 643010007

Perching Bird 643010065

Vase 26cm 643011009

Manhattan Vase 36cm 643011010

643011093

Manhattan

Tortoise

Owl

Every piece of Poole Pottery comes with a gift box

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.

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.