Pedestal Mug
Pedestal Mug
The Stroke-on-Trent Pottery Revolution
Pottery is really alive in UK.
If it is English ceramics that we are talking about, certainly, the place to go to is Stoke-on-Tent. For three hundred years, the capital of UK ceramics has been a haven to some of the most successful and the most plentiful English pottery manufacturing companies that became well – renowned trademarks in the United Kingdom. There are even testimonies that pottery making in the city started as early as the 12th century.
The biggest boon of Stoke-on-Trent is its strategic location, which is very advantageous to pottery making. The place have ample supplies of earthenware clay and also coal which means they do not need to import such materials anymore.
Merging the excellent area and the industrialization of UK, the city then became an important place for the progress of pottery and ceramics industry. Making roads to create more accessible routes contributed for the importation of other raw materials needed to make even more exquisite pottery. Materials imported from the Far East are easily obtained.
With the rich history on earthenware making, the makers of the Stoke-on Trent festival wishes to put the city into pedestal and declare it as the centre for ceramics in the whole world. It is not that surprising though, considering that more than 80 companies and suppliers met at the exhibit together with blooming artists in this year’s ceramics festival.
The inhabitants of the city consider pottery as more than just a hobby or a passing “liking”. The city itself, rose because of the pottery business. More than just work, the industry is also the reason why they have piping hot means on their tables. As a result, pottery became a part of the people’s being.
The sad thing is, Stoke-on-Trent made a backward slide in manufacturing ceramics, as what has happened to other people too. The world has become a very competitive niche and as long as the pottery industry is alive in well in the city, quality ceramics will be poured into the market because in that place, nothing can really quench the passion of the people in making ceramics.
They say that a transition in the pottery and ceramic industry is occurring and it is entering a period of renaissance. The production and the business in whole has been negatively affected for many years. But the hope that the industry will progress in modern times and make a revolution is still in the minds of the pottery makers. There is still that dream than one day, all pottery mugs and china pottery will be purchased from Stoke-on-Trent.
As long as there are makers, the pottery making industry will never die.
About the Author
The writer is a handmade mugs enthusiast working as an assistant curate. He feels strongly about the resurrection of English pottery in the country.
