Lorna Bailey
Encyclopedia
Lorna Bailey is an English
potter
and businesswoman.
area of Newcastle-under-Lyme
, England
, close to the Potteries area of Stoke-on-Trent
.
After school, Bailey attended Stoke-on-Trent College
. She obtained a B.Tec National Diploma (Ceramics) and then joined her father's new business LJB Ceramics, at the Old Ellgreave Pottery, Burslem
, Stoke-on-Trent
, which produced Toby Jugs and other decorated pottery
, where she initially worked as a paintress. At the same time, Bailey began designing a series of highly colourful cottage & trees and abstract patterns very closely based on the pottery
of Clarice Cliff
. These were produced by the Old Ellgreave Pottery in vivid underglaze
colours (unlike the on-glaze or overglaze
decoration typical of Clarice Cliff ware). In December 1995, when Bailey was just 17 years, her House and Path and Sunburst patterns became the first to be put into full production. These were painted by Bailey and a small team of painters onto a range of traditional and Art Deco shapes, including vases, jugs, teapots, sugar shakers, cruets, candlesticks, and wall pockets. They were then sold primarily to trade buyers. In addition to being marked with a factory stamp, from the outset Bailey has personally signed almost every one of her pieces underglaze with the "Lorna Bailey" signature.
In 1998, Bailey received a considerable boost in popularity following a commercial co-promotion in the July edition of Collect it! magazine, which featured her Astro Rocket Sugar Sifter on the cover which the magazine had commissioned. This was produced in a limited edition of 250 available for purchase only through the magazine (it sold out within hours). Following the huge interest that resulted, the Lorna Bailey Collectors Club was formed in September 1998. By 2006 it had grown to 1000 members. Bailey's commercial success was acknowledged when she was honoured as Midlands
Business Woman of the Year for 1998.
In March 2002, Bailey married Tim Proctor. This event was marked by the issue of a small ceramic wedding cake which was sent out as a gift to all Collectors Club members. On July 16, 2002, the couple attended a Garden Party
at Buckingham Palace
.
In February 2003, LJB Ceramics changed its name to Lorna Bailey Artware. The following month, the factory moved into new premises at Top Bridge Works, Burslem. In October 2004, it moved again to its site at The Old Post Office, Burslem.
In July 2005, Bailey was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Staffordshire University
for her services to pottery design.
In December 2005, Bailey issued the first of a series based on Pop and Rock Legends of the Twentieth Century with a ceramic figure of John Lennon
dressed in the outfit pictured in the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
. Figures of the other Beatles later followed, together with other wares depicting members of the group. These were produced in collaboration with The Beatles Story
Museum in Liverpool
.
In 2007, Bailey was elected as Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
(FRSA) which was ironic as Clarice Cliff had never received such recognition in the 1930s.
In January 2008, Bailey announced her decision to retire from the pottery industry to concentrate on her family life and in May 2008 Lorna Bailey Artware went into voluntary liquidation, with the loss of seven jobs and owing creditors around £40,000.
However, despite being adamant that she was retiring for good, new Lorna designs became available through her website in 2009. Although "new" to her catalogue, they were unreleased designs from her pre-2008 working period.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
potter
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...
and businesswoman.
Life and work
Lorna Bailey was brought up in the WolstantonWolstanton
Wolstanton is a suburban area on the outskirts of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.-History:Historically, Wolstanton was a place in its own right. It is mentioned in the Domesday book where it is listed amongst the lands belonging to the King. The land consisted of work for 2 ploughs, 14...
area of Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a market town in Staffordshire, England, and is the principal town of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme. It is part of The Potteries Urban Area and North Staffordshire. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 73,944...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, close to the Potteries area 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...
.
After school, Bailey attended Stoke-on-Trent College
Stoke-on-Trent College
Stoke-on-Trent College is a provider of further and higher education based in Stoke-on-Trent. According to www.stoke.net the college has more than 30,000 students and over 1000 staff. The college's main campus, known as Cauldon Campus, is in Shelton and it has a second campus in Burslem.Stoke on...
. She obtained a B.Tec National Diploma (Ceramics) and then joined her father's new business LJB Ceramics, at the Old Ellgreave Pottery, Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
, 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...
, which produced Toby Jugs and other decorated 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...
, where she initially worked as a paintress. At the same time, Bailey began designing a series of highly colourful cottage & trees and abstract patterns very closely based on the 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...
of Clarice Cliff
Clarice Cliff
Clarice Cliff was an English ceramic industrial artist active from 1922 to 1963.Cliff was born in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, England.- Early life :...
. These were produced by the Old Ellgreave Pottery in vivid underglaze
Underglaze
Underglaze is a method of decorating ceramic articles, the decoration is applied to the surface before it is glazed. Because the glaze will subsequently cover it such decoration is completely durable, but because the subsequent glost firing is at a higher temperature than used in on-glaze...
colours (unlike the on-glaze or overglaze
Overglaze
Is more usually called on-glaze and refers to:* The outer layer or coat of glaze on a piece of ceramics.* Also, a decoration, usually enamel, applied over a glaze....
decoration typical of Clarice Cliff ware). In December 1995, when Bailey was just 17 years, her House and Path and Sunburst patterns became the first to be put into full production. These were painted by Bailey and a small team of painters onto a range of traditional and Art Deco shapes, including vases, jugs, teapots, sugar shakers, cruets, candlesticks, and wall pockets. They were then sold primarily to trade buyers. In addition to being marked with a factory stamp, from the outset Bailey has personally signed almost every one of her pieces underglaze with the "Lorna Bailey" signature.
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
Business Woman of the Year for 1998.
Garden party
A garden party is a social gathering with food provided, in the open in a park or a garden. An event described as a garden party is usually more formal than other similar gatherings, which may be called just parties, picnics, barbecues, etc,...
at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
.
In July 2005, Bailey was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury.- History :...
for her services to pottery design.
In December 2005, Bailey issued the first of a series based on Pop and Rock Legends of the Twentieth Century with a ceramic figure of John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
dressed in the outfit pictured in the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...
. Figures of the other Beatles later followed, together with other wares depicting members of the group. These were produced in collaboration with The Beatles Story
The Beatles Story
The Beatles Story is a visitor attraction dedicated to the leading 1960s group The Beatles. It is based in Albert Dock, Liverpool, England.- Description :...
Museum in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
In 2007, Bailey was elected as Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
(FRSA) which was ironic as Clarice Cliff had never received such recognition in the 1930s.
In January 2008, Bailey announced her decision to retire from the pottery industry to concentrate on her family life and in May 2008 Lorna Bailey Artware went into voluntary liquidation, with the loss of seven jobs and owing creditors around £40,000.
However, despite being adamant that she was retiring for good, new Lorna designs became available through her website in 2009. Although "new" to her catalogue, they were unreleased designs from her pre-2008 working period.
Further reading
- Bailey, Lorna. & Lee, Dave (2001). Lorna Bailey: The First Millennium. Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent: LJB Ceramics.
- Bailey, Lorna. & Lee, Dave (2003). Lorna Bailey: Cat-alogue. Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent: Lorna Bailey Artware. (Kitty Katz range)
- Bailey, Lorna. & Lee, Dave (2004). Lorna Bailey: The Cat-alogue II. Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent: Lorna Bailey Artware. (Kitty Katz range)
- Bailey, Lorna, Bailey, Lionel, & Booth, John (2005). Lorna Bailey: The New Millennium: General Patterns. Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent: Lorna Bailey Artware.
- Donovan, Martin (1998). "Lorna Bailey". Collect it! No. 13, July 1998, pp. 19–21.