An artisan potter works on a range of fine china, designed to commemorate the coronation of Charles III, at Duchess China 1888 in Longton, England, on March 20, 2023 (AFP/Archives/Paul ELLIS)
With her expert brushstroke, a craftswoman draws a fine golden line around a cup, the finishing touch on this object created to celebrate the coronation of Charles III, the first of a British monarch for 70 years.
At a historic pottery in central England, craftsmen are working hard to meet demand for fine china memorabilia, six weeks before the coronation, which will take place at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6 .
“You feel so proud. There hasn’t been anything like this since Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, says Gary Fraser, production manager at Duchess China 1888, in the city of Stoke-on-Trent , the cradle of the pottery industry.
Gary Fraser, 57, whose father and grandfather also worked in pottery, remembers them bringing back pieces produced for previous royal events, such as for Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee II, in 1977.
A craftswoman works on a range of fine china, designed to commemorate the coronation of Charles III, at Duchess China 1888 in Longton, England, on March 20, 2023 (AFP/Paul ELLIS)
“We have the feeling of being part of history. People will pass these objects on to their grandchildren”, he continues proudly.
Duchess China has been producing fine china for over 130 years.
The plates, cups and other items that Duchess China makes for Charles’ coronation are inspired by items produced in 1937, for the coronation of George VI, the father of Elizabeth II.
The red, white and blue design features the Tudor crown of English monarchs from the time of Henry VIII, with the words “Gold Save The King” in large gold letters.
Examples of previously designed fine china memorials in Longton, central England, on March 20, 2023 (AFP/Paul ELLIS)
It costs 25 pounds sterling (28.4 euros) for a cup.
Each piece passes through the hands of more than 20 craftsmen before being considered complete.
The factory is busier than ever with three major royal events in less than a year: the Platinum Jubilee celebrating 70 years of Elizabeth’s reign last summer, then her passing in September and now Charles’ coronation.
– Expertise –
“Obviously a crowning year (is) something we’ve never had and I don’t think we can prepare for it,” says manager Jason Simms, who took over the business in difficulty four years ago with a business partner, Andrew Tooth.
A craftswoman works on a range of fine china, designed to commemorate the coronation of Charles III, at Duchess China 1888 in Longton, England, on March 20, 2023 (AFP/Paul ELLIS)
“If we had listened to what people were saying, we wouldn’t even have tried,” says Jason Simms. Since 2019, they have faced a succession of crises, Brexit, the pandemic and then the increase in energy prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The company currently produces its porcelain five days a week, instead of the usual two or three, and has hired new employees.
But the decline of pottery in Stoke-on-Trent in recent decades, marked by bankruptcies and relocations abroad, has complicated recruitment.
Gary Fraser worked for Dudson, a company founded in the early 19th century, until it closed in 2019. “People were crying. Within 20 minutes all the machines stopped, the doors were closed and we were escorted out places,” he recalls.
An artisan potter works on a range of fine china, designed to commemorate the coronation of Charles III, at Duchess China 1888 in Longton, England, on March 20, 2023 (AFP/Paul ELLIS)
With these business closures, the transmission of know-how from one generation to the next has been lost.
There are only a handful of ceramic companies left in Stoke, and Duchess is the last dating back to the 19th century that still manufactures its wares from start to finish in the town.
Jason Simms hopes this new royal collection will mark a fresh start for the company.
Reversing the decline of the pottery industry in Stoke is impossible, he says.
But what might be possible, however, is to bring Duchess ‘in her place’: ‘to deliver a very good British product and preserve the traditional skills for generations to come’, he added.
© 2023 AFP
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