This process produced a sturdy utilitarian type of porcelain and was the predominate output for many years.Īs porcelain makers worked to improve their formulas, a new combination using bone ash was discovered. Early English porcelain was a basic tin-glazed formulation called Delftware.Īs porcelain makers began using the Devonshire white clay their porcelain formulations became known as soft-paste or salt-glazed porcelain. Some pieces, however, were as early as the 1770’s and other pieces dated to the early 1900’s.
The majority of the collection dated to the mid-19th century and comprised Staffordshire Figures which are primarily of animals and famous people. The Staffordshire Pottery was predicted to sell for £70,000 but high demand pushed the hammer price to £107,000. In August 2012, a varied collection of good Staffordshire antique porcelain exceeded all expectations when it was sold at a Devon auction house. Its location was also central to major water and land transports of the time, which is another important consideration when deciding where to establish a manufacturing facility.Īnd then there is also the small detail that it just happened to be the region where the first potteries started in the early 1700’s, and grew into an industry from that first seed or two.Įnglish porcelain was a mix of several types of porcelain, and with the diversity of potteries and porcelain makers in Staffordshire it is no wonder that recognized Staffordshire pieces can be any one of many varieties. The Origins of Porcelain in Staffordshire.Īs a region, Staffordshire became the hub for many English porcelain makers and manufactories because of its close proximity to the source of Devonshire clay, a prime ingredient in the formula for most types of English porcelain. So yes, the answer is that Staffordshire porcelain is all the above, and most collectors of Staffordshire antique porcelain know that this is a very broad category, so they almost always focus their collections on one aspect of Staffordshire porcelain. It is also a type of porcelain which was known as salt-glazed, or creamware porcelain, but these aren’t the only types produced there.Īnd it is also associated with a style of porcelain design – Blue Ware was a porcelain design that originated in Staffordshire. There is a noted porcelain company named Crown Staffordshire, and Staffordshire is a region that was, (and still is), home to many English porcelain makers. Staffordshire porcelain is essentially all the above. This is information every keen porcelain collector should know. Is it a company name? Is it a style, or type of porcelain? Is it just a region that porcelain comes from? Or could the answer be all of the above? Most people have probably heard of Staffordshire Porcelain, and most vintage and antique porcelain collectors are probably familiar with the name.īut, just what does Staffordshire mean when you’re talking about pottery & porcelain? Get to know your antique porcelain collectibles by learning to recognise Staffordshire porcelain.
Early English porcelain was a basic tin-glazed formulation called Delftware.The Origins of Porcelain in Staffordshire.Staffordshire porcelain is essentially all the above.Get to know your antique porcelain collectibles by learning to recognise Staffordshire porcelain.