Emma Bridgewater is a British ceramics manufacturing company founded in 1985. The company specialises in earthenwaretableware, manufactured in Stoke-on-Trent, England.[1][2][3][4] The pottery is produced using traditional techniques.[5] The company is one of the largest pottery manufacturers based entirely in the UK.[6]
The company was founded by Emma Rice, née Bridgewater, in 1985 when being unable to find a suitable cup and saucer for a gift for her mother she decided to create her own.[8] Drawing four shapes, a mug, a bowl, a jug and a dish, samples were created in Stoke-on-Trent.[9]
In 1995, the company purchased a former Victorian factory site in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, and converted the site.[10] Production began there in 1996.[8]
During a royal visit, Bridgewater discussed the brand's launch of its biggest ever collection of Royal commemorative ware to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.[11]Catherine, Princess of Wales, made an official visit to the factory in 2015.[8]
In its first year the company had a turnover of around £30,000. By 2009 this had increased to almost £8 million,[9] and £11 million in 2010, employing 180 people.[12]
According to their website, in 2022 around 230 people worked their factory and produce 1.7 million pieces annually.[1]
Products and Production
Emma Bridgewater earthenware is manufactured using "traditional techniques of manufacture and decoration", for example decoration is hand-applied using sponges, brushes and transfers.[13] The earthenware is produced using mould casting, before being fettled and sponged, and then fired.[14] Decoration is then applied using either sponge painting or lithographing.[14] Sponge painted decoration was a historically common technique in the British pottery industry, but had fallen out of manufacturing practice until it was revived by the company in the 1980s.[10] The polka dot pattern is one prominent Emma Bridgewater design created using this technique.[14]
Emma Bridgewater also produces a range of homeware and gifts. The company's pottery designs are adapted for application onto textiles, glass, tin, stationery, and melamine.[15]
Founder and Owners
The company is named after the founder and owner Emma Rice, née Bridgewater. Bridgewater previously ran the company with her ex-husband artist Matthew Rice, who still designs for the company.[16][17]
Bridgewater was born in Cambridge, England, in 1960, and studied English Literature at the University of London.[13] Bridgewater spent most of her childhood in north Oxford and has seven siblings, including the journalist Clover Stroud and Nell Gifford, co-founder and ringmistress of Giffords Circus.[18][19]
Bridgewater married Matthew Rice in 1987 and the couple have four children together.[20] Matthew Rice is a painter, architectural writer[21] and illustrator[22] and also designs for the company, and he indulges his passion for birdlife in the Birds range.[15] The couple have since amicably divorced after 30 years of marriage however Rice still designs for the company.[23][17]
^'The UK Ceramic Marketing Strategy in response to
globalization.' N.Ewins. Conference Of Historical Analysis And Research In Marketing (CHARM). 30 May - 2 Jun 2013. Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
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