More UK
Collection 1 > UK
New Devon; Holkham; Dendan
- About the New Devon Pottery I could find no data, except that they were specialized in souvenirs. The hallmark has a beaver in it. The piggy banks can be distinguished by the peculiar coin slot, all of them are 11.5 cm long.
- The Holkham Pottery (Wells-next-to-the Sea in Norfork) was founded in 1951 by Elizabeth, Countess of Leicester, the wife of the fifth Earl of Holkham and produced pottery until September 2007. The piggy banks are 11 cm long.
- About the history of Dendan Ware I know nothing yet.
Vintage
Many of our neighbours on the opposite side of the Canal are of the opinion that their forefathers have invented porcelain and fine pottery, but nothing is further from the truth. It all started in China (and possibly much earlier in the Middle East), from Southern Europe it moved to Delft. And from Delft craftsmen went to England to explain the process and founding the porcelain and earthenware industry.
It’s a real puzzle to determine the origin of piggy banks. This sometimes goes by chance: I looked at an old advertisement of Weetman Giftware and I spotted 3 of my piggy banks. Pigs with an umbrella or carrying the text "For rainy days” are regular too. These expression indicates (as you will know) poor or difficult times. Piggy banks with cartoons by Thelwell (famous for its ponies) are real collector’s items.
Miscellaneous 1
For a period of time my collection contained more English than Dutch piggy banks. The supply in England was larger for long time than in the Netherlands. Which is probably due to the storage culture, being proud of the UK heritage.
The centre of the English potteries is/was undoubtedly Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. The collective name of Staffordshire pottery and porcelain hides many former major brands. There are many more areas for pottery in the UK like Surrey or St Ives (Cornwall), Wales, Scotland, etc.
Miscellaneous 2
The majority of the once flourishing UK pottery industry is history now. Most factories are demolished, some still exist as ghostly ruins, and a few have a second life as a pottery museum. Of course there are (new) pottery’s that understood the needs of the 21st century and its customers of today and still exist. But the English pottery industry as such is gone.
The best pottery (china and bone china) has been coming (not only the English claim) for more than 200 years from the English Midlands, with the world-famous Wedgwood brand as the 'standard bearer'. Between 1995 and 2006, Wedgwood moved eighty percent of its production to the Far East, partly for cost reasons. Ironically enough, the fine pottery had returned to its roots. Incidentally, in 2023, Wedgwood is doing so well again that they are considering retrieving part of the production.
The best pottery (china and bone china) has been coming (not only the English claim) for more than 200 years from the English Midlands, with the world-famous Wedgwood brand as the 'standard bearer'. Between 1995 and 2006, Wedgwood moved eighty percent of its production to the Far East, partly for cost reasons. Ironically enough, the fine pottery had returned to its roots. Incidentally, in 2023, Wedgwood is doing so well again that they are considering retrieving part of the production.
