Midwinter Pottery
Encyclopedia
The Midwinter Pottery
was founded in Burslem
, Stoke-on-Trent
, in 1910 and had become one of England
's largest potteries by the late 1930s with more than 700 employees.
, Terence Conran
, Hugh Casson
, John Russell
and Peter Scott
. The Midwinter Pottery was also an innovator in producing 'accessories' to their basic dinner services and tea sets. The Clayburn Pottery
, a sister company to Midwinter, made pieces such as lamp bases that could be added to a Midwinter dinner service. In the 1960s, the Spanish Garden design, that was very successful on dinner ware and tea sets, adorned articles such as a bread bin and chopping board.
The costs involved in developing two unsuccessful new ranges weakened the company, and there was a takeover by J. & G. Meakin
in 1968. In 1970 Meakin was itself bought out by Wedgwood
. Pottery was produced under the Midwinter name from their factory until 1987.
Many of the pieces produced by Midwinter in the 1950s and 1960s have become highly collectible, being typical of the styles of those eras.
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
was founded in Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
, Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
, in 1910 and had become one of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's largest potteries by the late 1930s with more than 700 employees.
History
In the 1950s, under the leadership of the director Roy Midwinter, the company became one of the leading innovators in British tableware production. A large part of this was due to the noted ceramicists and designers who worked for the pottery, including Jessie TaitJessie Tait
Dorothy Jessie Tait was a prolific English ceramic designer working in the Stoke-on-Trent pottery industries, most prominently for Midwinter, from the 1940s to the 1980s.-Life and work:...
, Terence Conran
Terence Conran
Sir Terence Orby Conran, FCSD, is an English designer, restaurateur, retailer and writer.-Early life and education:Terence Conran was born in Kingston upon Thames, the son of Christina Mabel and South African-born Gerard Rupert Conran, a businessman who owned a rubber importation company in East...
, Hugh Casson
Hugh Casson
Sir Hugh Maxwell Casson, KCVO, RA, RDI, was a British architect, interior designer, artist, and influential writer and broadcaster on 20th century design. He is particularly noted for his role as director of architecture at the 1951 Festival of Britain on London's South Bank.Casson's family...
, John Russell
John Russell
-Politicians:* John Russell , MP for Herefordshire and Speaker of the House of Commons.* John E. Russell , U.S. Representative from Massachusetts* John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford -Politicians:* John Russell (speaker) (died 1497), MP for Herefordshire and Speaker of the House of Commons.* John E....
and Peter Scott
Peter Scott
Sir Peter Markham Scott, CH, CBE, DSC and Bar, MID, FRS, FZS, was a British ornithologist, conservationist, painter, naval officer and sportsman....
. The Midwinter Pottery was also an innovator in producing 'accessories' to their basic dinner services and tea sets. The Clayburn Pottery
Clayburn Pottery
The Clayburn Pottery was an English pottery works based in Milner St, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.-History:The company was established in 1953 and ceased trading by 1960. The Clayburn pottery produced hand painted decorative wares such as lamp bases, small bowls, jugs and cruet sets...
, a sister company to Midwinter, made pieces such as lamp bases that could be added to a Midwinter dinner service. In the 1960s, the Spanish Garden design, that was very successful on dinner ware and tea sets, adorned articles such as a bread bin and chopping board.
The costs involved in developing two unsuccessful new ranges weakened the company, and there was a takeover by J. & G. Meakin
J. & G. Meakin
J. & G. Meakin was an English pottery manufacturing company founded in 1851 and based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.-History:In the 19th century, J. & G...
in 1968. In 1970 Meakin was itself bought out by Wedgwood
Wedgwood
Wedgwood, strictly speaking Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, is a pottery firm owned by KPS Capital Partners, a private equity company based in New York City, USA. Wedgwood was founded on May 1, 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood and in 1987 merged with Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood, an...
. Pottery was produced under the Midwinter name from their factory until 1987.
Many of the pieces produced by Midwinter in the 1950s and 1960s have become highly collectible, being typical of the styles of those eras.