In 1910 Arnold Bennett, the Potteries born author and novelist wrote,
"The Potteries are the Potteries because on that precise spot of the surface of the British Empire there were deposits of clay and of quick-burning coal
close to the surface. If this was not an invitation on the part of Nature to make pots, what was it?"
 |
Spode, bone china dessert plate. View is of Spode factory & its bottle ovens. Potworks, from about 1800, handpainted in ceramic colours & gilded and fired with coal. At least 6 firings and most probably up to 10, in bottle ovens! |
"The Potteries skyline has inspired many artists.
Indeed, it continues to inspire." Anon, 2020
 |
| Potland Stained glass Victor G. Skellern Royal College of Art, 1937 Photo: Potteries Museum and Art Gallery |
 |
Gladstone Pottery Museum Acrylic Terry Woolliscroft private collection |
 |
Mintons, Stoke Watercolour Reginald G Haggar (1905-1988) |
“The ovens are the most important part of the potter’s plant. Good biscuit ware is absolutely necessary to make good glost ware and yet if the glost firing is not up to the mark the ware will be inferior, no matter how good the biscuit may have been. It is on these processes that the ware depends for its solidity, brilliancy of appearance, and durability; and it matters little what care may have been bestowed in the potting, glazing, and decoration of the pieces if the firing is not satisfactory.” From: Notes on the Manufacture of Earthenware by Ernest Albert Sandeman, 1901
 |
Canal at Longport Oil Maurice Wade (1917-1991) ©the artist's estate |
 |
Canal at Longport III Oil Maurice Wade (1917-1991) ©the artist's estate Photo: Wedgwood Museum |
 |
Sunset over Potteries Landscape Jack Clarkson (1906-1986) Photo: Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme |
"It does not seem to be realised what beautiful things these bottle ovens were,
the astonishing variety of contour, the queer and unusual bulges
that resulted from the excess of heat, the varied manner of construction,
the shaping of the neck and the almost battlemented edge.
Some were heavily corseted, others still graceful spinsterish affairs
which seemed so virginal as never to have trafficked with clay or fire."
Reginald G Haggar, 1964
 |
Garfield Works, Longton Watercolour Reginald G Haggar (1905-1988) private collection |
 |
Bottle Kilns Emma Batchelor-Flint (1883–1968) Photo: The New Art Gallery Walsall |
 |
Reflections, Etruria Vale, 1949 Harold H. Birchall Photo: Potteries Museum and Art Gallery |
 |
Barlow Street, Longton, 1960 Watercolour Doris Brown private collection |
 |
| Ladybird Books - The Pottery Makers 'People at Work' series 1969 Artist: John Berry |
"Some kilns were shaped like large bottles and were called bottle kilns.
The clay shapes that the potters made were put into the kilns
and baked, or fired, for several days."
The Pottery Makers, 1969
 |
Warren Street, Normacot, 1995 Ink pen sketch Dave Withington |
 |
Webberley Lane, Longton, 1995 Ink pen sketch Dave Withington |
 |
Middleport Pottery Noël Spencer 1900-1986 b.Nuneaton Graduate of the Royal College of Art Principal of Norwich Art School for 20 years Photo: Potteries Museum and Art Gallery |
 |
Desolation Charles William Brown (1882–1961) Photo: Potteries Museum and Art Gallery |
 |
| Wood's Pottery, Longport 1950 W. K. Harper Photo: Brampton Museum |
 |
| Smoke and Snow D. Y. Bajo Photo: Potteries Museum and Art Gallery |
 |
| From a Back Lane Jack Simcock (1929–2012) Photo: Potteries Museum & Art Gallery |
"Some of them were respected, others were feared,
and some were absolutely hated and were known by rude names."
From an essay about bottle ovens
by Sir George Wade
 |
| Burgess and Leigh George A. Wade active 1950–1960 Photo: Potteries Museum & Art Gallery |
 |
| In the Bottle Oven Paul Montem Clarke (1915–1999) Photo: Potteries Museum & Art Gallery |
Art UK > https://artuk.org/
Potteries Museum and Art Gallery > https://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/
......
THE BOTTLE OVEN ART CLUB - The bottle oven themed art initiative - part of Potteries Bottle Oven Day celebrations 2020.
These are just some of the Potteries sites that inspired the artists.
4 mins silent video.