Stoke-on-Trent’s ‘jewels’ set to crown coronation

Britain’s spiritual home of ceramics is set to play a leading role once again in celebrating a royal milestone with the launch of a King Charles III Coronation collection, all made in Stoke-on-Trent.

Regarded as a world ‘Capital of Ceramics’ - and the only city in Britain to be named after its primary industry, The Potteries - the area is a leading destination when it comes to looking for distinctive ways to commemorate a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Shaped by its ceramics production for centuries, today it offers a host of award-winning attractions, tours, and factory shops, and is still a leading centre for pottery production and home to some of the biggest names in UK ceramics.

Now, one of them, popular lifestyle brand Emma Bridgewater, has launched its first ever collection to mark a royal coronation ahead of the ceremony on 6 May 2023.

And for those keen to sneak behind the scenes of this canal-side Victorian factory, tours offer a chance to see the craftsmanship that goes into every piece of Emma Bridgewater pottery.

As well as meeting the jigger, jollier, fettlers, casters and decorators whose traditional skills make the distinctive pottery so popular, visitors can also book a session at the Decorating Studio, where they can choose a classic Emma Bridgewater shaped pottery to create their own masterpiece.

Marking royal celebrations in ceramics is a strong tradition in The Potteries and Emma Bridgewater has made royal mugs and other pieces for 16 other royal occasions since 1986, including weddings, engagements, births and jubilees.

Most recently, the mug to mark the long life and service of the late Queen Elizabeth II became the company’s fastest and best-selling product ever produced, at over 20,000 pieces, and continues to be a popular buy.

Other royal commemorative ware produced by the company include those for Queen Elizabeth’s 80th birthday and her Diamond Jubilee, as well as the engagement, and marriage, of the Prince and Princess of Wales - with many items selling out within weeks of being released.

Each piece of Emma Bridgewater pottery is made, and hand decorated, in Stoke-on-Trent where the business has been based for more than 30 years.

The company is already seeing strong demand for its new collection, which includes half pint mugs, small plates and cake stands, as well as tea pots and a special crown piece for collectors. On the first day of being on sale, more than 1,500 of the new King Charles III half pint mug were bought, making it the business’ second fastest selling product ever.

For the company, this new collection is just the latest in a long history of royal connections, with the Stoke-on-Trent factory graced with several visits from members of the Royal Family in recent years.

In 2010 the King and Queen Consort (then Prince and Princess of Wales) toured the works in 2010, and five years later the Princess of Wales (then Duchess of Cambridge) returned, and even tried her hand at sponge decorating a plate for the charity collection being made in support of the EACH Children’s Hospital where she is royal patron.

For those keen on pottery, Stoke-on-Trent and The Potteries not only has plenty on offer for collectors, but thanks to the success of TV show The Great Pottery Throw Down - filmed at Stoke-on-Trent’s historic Gladstone Pottery - its world-famous brands and heritage attractions, as well hands-on experiences, also prove popular with visitors.

Emma Bridgewater factory tours are available on selected dates and cost £5 per person, while the Decorating Studio costs £2.95 per person, with pottery pieces to paint starting at £7. Both the tour and studio experience must be booked in advance.

For more details about Emma Bridgwater’s King Charles III Coronation, see http://bit.ly/3lWwOh7