Lowestoft Porcelain Factory

Teapot, attributed to Lowestoft Porcelain Factory, Lowestoft, England, c. 1765
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The Lowestoft Porcelain Factory was a soft-paste porcelain factory on Crown Street in Lowestoft, Suffolk, active from 1757 to 1802,[1] producing domestic wares such as pots, teapots, and jugs, with shapes copied from silverwork or from Bow and Worcester porcelain.[2] The factory, built on the site of an existing pottery or brick kiln, was later used as a brewery and malt kiln. Most of its remaining buildings were demolished in 1955.[3]

Lowestoft collectors divide the factory's products into three distinct periods, Early Lowestoft c. 1756-c. 1761, Middle-Period c. 1761-c. 1768 and Late-Period c. 1768 to factory closure in 1802.[3][4] All told, the factory was in production for longer than any English soft-paste porcelain producer other than Royal Worcester and Royal Crown Derby.[3]

The factory produced experimental wares in about 1756 and first advertised their porcelain in 1760.[1][3] During the early period wares decorated with Chinese-inspired scenes in underglaze blue were produced. This type of decoration continued throughout the life of the factory but scenes were gradually simplified. Overglaze colours in enamel were used from about 1768, generally in white and blue or in a polychrome that utilizes a bright brick red.[5] After 1770 transfer printing was used.

Lowestoft has no factory mark of its own, but some Lowestoft pieces bear dates, names of owners, or the words A Trifle from Lowestoft. Some pieces used the marks of Meissen or Worcester.[2] Some export porcelain made and decorated in China was confused with Lowestoft and may still be called "Oriental Lowestoft" in the United States.[2] At present, Lowestoft porcelain collections exist at the museum in Nicholas Everett Park, Oulton Broad, and at the Castle Museum, Norwich.

References

  1. 1 2 History, Lowestoft Porcelain. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
  2. 1 2 3 Lowestoft porcelain, Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lowestoft Porcelain Factory, kilns etc., Heritage Gateway. Retrieved 2011-05-05
  4. ↑ Today – a phoenix from the ashes!, Lowestoft Porcelain index. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
  5. ↑ Lowestoft, Eastern Daily Press, 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
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