Lowestoft Porcelain Factory

British, 1757 - 1802

BiographyEnglish ceramics manufactory. It was founded in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in 1757 by Robert Browne (d 1771); the early partners included Philip Walker, Obed Aldred and James Rickman. Lowestoft produced soft-paste porcelain, which included bone-ash and is therefore chemically similar to Bow porcelain. Production included tablewares, tea caddies, inkwells and items inscribed ‘A Trifle from Lowestoft’. A small selection of child and animal ornaments was also produced. Until c. 1765 only underglazed-blue decoration was used. Transfer-printed decoration was used later, and c. 1767 enamel decoration was introduced. The influence of the Worcester porcelain factory is seen in the blue-and-white wares of the 1770s and 1780s and in the use of mock Chinese landscapes, and that of the Derby porcelain factory is shown in the relief-moulded designs. Rococo and Chinese styles remained in production at Lowestoft when in other factories they had been superseded by Neo-classicism. The main painters were John Redgrave (c. 1721–1801), Richard Powles (1764–1808) and Robert Allen (1744–1835), who was manager at Lowestoft until the factory closed in 1802.

K. Somervell. "Lowestoft Porcelain Factory." In Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online, http://www.oxfordartonline.com.proxy.lib.fsu.edu/subscriber/article/grove/art/T052182 (accessed May 1, 2012).

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