Decorative Art

Irish Pottery Never Fails

Irish Pottery as a gift never fails. From retro Celtic to current modern day Belleek Pottery or the slightly more modern Nicholas Moss Collections. Pottery from Ireland is unique and always appreciated by those who are the lucky recipients of such treasured gifts.

If we take a look at the history of perhaps one of Irish Pottery’s best latter day success stories then we can get an idea of just how the art and craft of the potter has survived in Ireland.

So to Belleek

Pottery in the region began around 1849, after John Caldwell Bloomfield inherited his father’s estate. Seeking to provide employment for his tenants, who had been affected by the Irish potato famine and, being an amateur minerologist, he ordered a geological survey of his land. On finding that the area was rich in minerals, Bloomfield went into partnership with London architect Robert Williams Armstrong and Dublin merchant David McBirney. In setting up a pottery business, Bloomfield managed to get a railway line built to Belleek so that coal could be delivered with which to fire kilns.

Building started on the pottery in 1858. Initially starting with domestic products, it wasn’t until 1863 that small amounts of the Parian porcelain for which Belleek is famous for to this day, was successfully produced. By 1865, the prestige of the company had increased enough that its market included Ireland, England, the United States, Canada and Australia, and clients included the Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria and the nobility.

As we have stated, Irish Pottery is always innovative and attractive and is highly representative of its Celtic traditions and roots.

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More information on Irish Pottery can be found at http://www.absolutelyancient.com

Antique French Victorian small white parian porcelain hand