Emma Bridgewater
Encyclopedia
Emma Bridgewater is a British ceramics manufacturer founded in 1985, owned and run by Emma Rice née Bridgewater and Matthew Rice. Noted for their polka dot
design among others, Emma Bridgewater specialises in pottery with motif
s drawing on expertise and traditional techniques stretching back over 200 years. The company is one of the largest pottery
manufacturers based entirely in the UK, with all of its products made in its factory in the city of Stoke-on-Trent
, where it is one of the largest employers.
Emma Bridgewater has three shops in London, and one in Edinburgh
, as well as an outlet
located at the company's factory in Stoke-on-Trent.
but being unable to find any she liked, Emma decided to create her own. Drawing four shapes, a mug
, a bowl, a jug and a dish, samples were created in Stoke-on-Trent
. Matthew, Emma's husband, also designs for Emma Bridgewater. He indulges his passion for birdlife in the best-selling Birds range. In its first year the company had a turnover of around £30,000. By 2009 this had increased to almost £8 million, and £11 million in 2010, employing 180 people.
pottery has a reputation for creativity, drawing on a rich and traditional industrial culture. Many Emma Bridgewater designs are also adapted for application onto textiles, glass, tin, stationery, and melamine
. Her designs include patterns such as Black Toast, Polka Dot, Union Jack, Starry Skies, Pink Hearts and Figs.
Polka dot
Polka dot is a pattern consisting of an array of filled circles, generally equally sized and spaced relatively closely in relation to their diameters. Polka dots are most commonly seen on children's clothing, toys, and furniture, but they appear in a wide array of contexts...
design among others, Emma Bridgewater specialises in pottery with motif
Motif
Motif may refer to the following:In creative work:* Motif , a perceivable or salient recurring fragment or succession of notes* Motif , any recurring element in a story that has symbolic significance...
s drawing on expertise and traditional techniques stretching back over 200 years. The company is one of the largest pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
manufacturers based entirely in the UK, with all of its products made in its factory in the city of Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
, where it is one of the largest employers.
Emma Bridgewater has three shops in London, and one in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, as well as an outlet
Outlet store
An outlet store or factory outlet is a brick and mortar or online retail store in which manufacturers sell their stock directly to the public. Traditionally, a factory outlet was a store attached to a factory or warehouse, sometimes allowing customers to watch the production process like in the...
located at the company's factory in Stoke-on-Trent.
History
The company was founded by Emma Bridgewater in 1985, when she was looking for a birthday present for her mother. Wanting to buy a cup and saucerSaucer
A saucer is a small type of dishware, a plate that is specifically used with and for supporting a cup – a cylindrical cup intended for coffee or a half-sphere teacup for tea. Additionally, the saucer is a distant cousin to the plate. The saucer has a raised centre with a depression sized to fit a...
but being unable to find any she liked, Emma decided to create her own. Drawing four shapes, a mug
Mug
A mug is a sturdily built type of cup often used for drinking hot beverages, such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Mugs, by definition, have handles and often hold a larger amount of fluid than other types of cup. Usually a mug holds approximately 12 fluid ounces of liquid; double a tea cup...
, a bowl, a jug and a dish, samples were created in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
. Matthew, Emma's husband, also designs for Emma Bridgewater. He indulges his passion for birdlife in the best-selling Birds range. In its first year the company had a turnover of around £30,000. By 2009 this had increased to almost £8 million, and £11 million in 2010, employing 180 people.
Products
Emma Bridgewater's cream earthenwareEarthenware
Earthenware is a common ceramic material, which is used extensively for pottery tableware and decorative objects.-Types of earthenware:Although body formulations vary between countries and even between individual makers, a generic composition is 25% ball clay, 28% kaolin, 32% quartz, and 15%...
pottery has a reputation for creativity, drawing on a rich and traditional industrial culture. Many Emma Bridgewater designs are also adapted for application onto textiles, glass, tin, stationery, and melamine
Melamine
Melamine is an organic base and a trimer of cyanamide, with a 1,3,5-triazine skeleton. Like cyanamide, it contains 66% nitrogen by mass and, if mixed with resins, has fire retardant properties due to its release of nitrogen gas when burned or charred, and has several other industrial uses....
. Her designs include patterns such as Black Toast, Polka Dot, Union Jack, Starry Skies, Pink Hearts and Figs.