A Brief History of English Pottery and Porcelain
Early English pottery can be seen at its finest and most robust in the slipwares of the seventeenth century. a slip is the liquid clay of one color that contrasts with the body of another color. the great centers of production were Wrotham in Kent and Staffordshire. the growth of Staffordshire as a center with larger and larger factories led to a growing industrialisation in the nineteenth century with transfer printing taking over from hand painting. By the of the century, lithographic printing in full color was introduced and apart from a short spell during the Art-Deco period, lithographic printing has now become the norm.
English porcelain made in the mid-eighteenth century was mainly of the soft paste or artificial type, with great firms such as Chelsea, Bow, Derby and Worcester having their own formulas of different types of stone and clay. the invention of bone china revolutionized Staffordshire and some of the finest porcelain was made during this time by such purveyors like Flight Barr and Barr of Worcester.
Most people have pieces that have descended to them from previous generations and these can often form the basis of a collection. These are the true heirlooms that can be passed down to further generations to come. If you are starting a collection from scratch it can be fun to look for something that is not yet collected and therefore cheap. in fact, other things that can be bought at antique auctions very cheaply at the moment are modern limited editions. the last few years have also seen large advances in value in many items that were too cheap at one time.
Obviously, a danger is that when things become collectable, someone produces reproductions and fakes. These should not be confused with the real thing, as the fakes strive to look old and do not have the quality of the originals. in this regard, novice collectors must be on their guard when searching for the original pieces.
Be wary of pieces that seem too cheap, or heavy mass-produced pieces that try to look like their lighter, lovingly made originals. to get the feel of the genuine piece you should try to handle as many of the original items as you can.
Anything you buy for yourself should be bought because you love the piece and want to enjoy it in some manner. Whether it is an attractive but cracked pot, or an old or vintage mailbox that is still functional, it is important to first purchase the item based on your gut feel and whether you admire the item or not. While money should not be the reason for buying a piece, it is still comforting to know that your collection is bought at a sensible price and would lead to profit if sold. It is fair to say that a good collection of pottery and porcelain bought at the right price will generally hold its own with any other form of antique investment.
A Brief History of English Pottery and Porcelain
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