D       Be notified of updates to The Capital Scot		About Capital Scot Search this Site Site Map FAQ Notices Subscribers (Links) ICRA Checked

Some History of Scottish Ceramics

Written by
Diana (Alistairdiana@btinternet.com)

The story of Scottish pottery and porcelain is still widely unknown in America and this is unusual, for it was mostly to America that these items were exported. It all began in the late 1740's, when a group of businessmen set up the Delftfield Pottery, in Glasgow. One of the partners was Robert Dinwiddie, who was born at Germiston near Glasgow. He became Governor of Virginia and was responsible for the Delftfield pottery exporting Delft wares and Stone wares to the Eastern coast of America. These tin glazed earthenwares were decorated in a free hand style, as well as in transfer prints. Although they were not expensive at the time, today they are highly collectable and sought after. Deflt wares were prone to chipping and many items did not survive daily usage. It was for this reason that they were superseded by other types of ware. Most pieces were never marked by the manufacturer and for this reason that Glasgow Delftwares are confused with English ones. Recent excavations at the pottery site have shown that some items bear the letter "G", and this stands for Glasgow, to denote the port of origin. The Delftfield pottery was situated by the banks of the river Clyde at Glasgow, at a place known as the Broomielaw. It operated from 1748 until1823, when the old company was finally would up. During its lifetime thousands of items were sent to America, including apothecary jars, plates, tea bowls, coffee cans, chargers, chamber pots, and even tobacco pipes. The factory also produced porcelain goods, creamwares and pearlwares, and black basalt, of a high standard. The famous Scots inventor James Watt, was also involved in the company, and in its day it was one of the most successful pot works not only in Scotland but in the whole of the British Isles.

Credits:
© Copyright Diana (Alistairdiana@btinternet.com) 2001. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Reproduced by The Capital Scot by permission of Diana.

---

Memberships
Member of                      of the FOSI

Awards
                    

Accessibility