Staffordshire Mantelpiece Pottery

The pottery figures known as “Staffordshire” have little to do with the fine china and porcelain that made the six smoky towns of Stoke on Trent famous throughout the world.  Seen on their own, many of the coloured Staffordshire figures are primitive, clumsily modelled and crudely coloured.  Seen together they make an alluring Dickensian universe, a true folk art, a bewitching eccentricity.

With slide illustrations and items from her own collection of Staffordshire figures, Sue Boyle will explore how these curious pieces connect with the sumptuous tableware manufactured at the same time in the same towns by famous factories like Spode and Wedgwood.

Sue Boyle taught English in London, Cambridge and Bath before entering the antiques trade.  Since leaving the Bath markets, she has been writing poetry and organising poetry events and workshops in Bath and across the West Country.  For many years one of her poems featured on the A level syllabus.

She is currently gathering a collection of Victorian Staffordshire pieces for her next book.

Wine and soft drinks will be available to purchase before the talk at 6.45pm; please join us!