Emma Bridgewater

Emma Bridgewater is a British ceramics manufacturing company founded in 1985 which is named after Emma Rice CBE, née Bridgewater. It is run by her and her husband Matthew Rice.[1] Noted for their polka dot design among others, the company "Emma Bridgewater" specialises in pottery with motifs drawing on techniques stretching back over 200 years. The company is one of the largest pottery manufacturers based entirely in the UK. Most of its products are made in its factory in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, England,[2] while others are produced in Poland.

Bus with Emma Bridgewater livery

Emma Bridgewater
IndustryCeramics
Founded1985
OwnersEmma Rice CBE, née Bridgewater, Matthew Rice
Websitewww.emmabridgewater.co.uk
A mug made by the company

There are two Emma Bridgewater shops in London as well as an outlet store located at the company's factory. The products can be purchased from major UK retailers such as John Lewis and House of Fraser.

In 2016, the company's namesake was made President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.[3] She is also a Patron of the Heritage Crafts Association.

History
Bridgewater Pottery Works, Eastwood, Hanley

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 saucer but being unable to find any she liked, Emma created her own. Drawing four shapes, a mug, a bowl, a jug and a dish, samples were created in Stoke-on-Trent.[4] Matthew, Emma's husband, also designs for Emma Bridgewater. He indulges his passion for birdlife in the Birds range.[5] In its first year the company had a turnover of around £30,000. By 2009 this had increased to almost £8 million,[4] and £11 million in 2010, employing 180 people.[6]

Products

Emma Bridgewater's cream earthenware pottery designs are also adapted for application onto textiles, glass, tin, stationery, and melamine.[5] Her designs include patterns such as Black Toast, Polka Dot, Union Jack, Starry Skies, Pink Hearts and Figs. During a visit by Prince Andrew, a member of the British Royal Family, Emma discussed the brand's launch of its biggest ever collection of Royal commemorative ware to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.[7] Other Royal products have also been launched including the Emma Bridgewater Coronation range as well as commemorative mugs for the birth of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.[8]

"Festival in a Factory"

For the last few years, the Emma Bridgewater factory in Stoke on Trent has been the home to the "Festival in a Factory" a 3-day literary festival where a number of authors, politicians, artists and celebrities give public lectures.[9] The 2020 Festival, planned for 4-6 June,[10] was cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recent speakers included: Mary Portas, Viv Groskop Elizabeth Day, Christopher Eccleston, Lauren Child, AN Wilson, historian Tom Holland, author Ben Macintyre, historian Andrew Roberts, Rachel Reeves MP, Greepeace UK’s Will McCallum, biographer Jenny Uglow, the National Trust’s Nino Strachey, the V&A's Oriole Cullen and Claire Wilcox, and novelist Deborah Moggach.[11]

Bibliography
  • Toast & marmalade and other stories. London: Saltyard Books. 2014. ISBN 978-1-44473-491-1.
  • Pattern. London: Saltyard Books. 2016. ISBN 978-1-44473-494-2.

References
  1. Wheater, Caroline. "Emma Bridgewater". BBC Homes and Antiques. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  2. "About the Company at Emma Bridgewater". www.emmabridgewater.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  3. "CPRE". www.cpre.org.uk. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  4. "Emma Bridgewater: The success of a pottery design business". The Daily Telegraph. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  5. Knight, Kathryn. "Pottery designer Emma Bridgewater: The woman who inspired my designs". Express. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  6. "Emma Bridgewater". BBC Business News. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  7. http://6towns.co.uk/news/2012/02/emma-bridgewater-launches-jubilee-collection#.T13fzIHVyI8
  8. "Memorabilia for Birth of Royal Baby". Mail Online.
  9. Video of the 2019 highlights
  10. The cancelled 2020 programme
  11. speaker list
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