Beswick Art Deco Pottery
Beswick is often associated with the production of ceramic novelty items, such as flying duck wall plaques and animal fancies such as the popular range of horses, but there was a vast production of Art Deco wares in the 1930s that seems to be currently rather undervalued.
The Decorative Era and Beswick Ware
By the 1920s, Beswick began to concentrate more on decorative wares, a trend that solidified in the 1930s. Operating from their Gold Street location in Longton, this period saw a vast output of Art Deco-inspired items. These popular pieces, which included vases, jugs, wall plaques, candlesticks, and baskets, were marketed under the well-known trade name 'Beswick Ware'.
Collectable Figurines
Beswick achieved significant international recognition and commercial success starting in the late 1940s with their highly popular licensed character ranges. Their Beatrix Potter characters, launched in 1948, and later their Disney character ranges, became instant hits and remain exceptionally collectable today.
Modern Ownership
Beswick remained under family control until 1969, when it was acquired by Royal Doulton. While Royal Doulton eventually moved production overseas and later stopped the main Beswick figurine lines, the Beswick name and its legacy have continued, with occasional relaunches and production resuming under different ownership structures, maintaining its place in the market.
Agents
John Beswick Ltd., Gold Street., Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
The following agents were representing the Beswick pottery in 1939 according to a black & white 'Beswick Ware' advert at the start of the 'Showrooms' section of The Pottery Gazette and Glass Trade Review Directory and Diary, 1939 (Page 76).
Australia:
Lee, Monteath & Biggs, Ltd., Box 4138P, G P.O., Brisbane.
Canada:
Miller Bros., Ltd., 32, Front Street West, Toronto.
Holland:
W. E. Bentley, Middelburgschestraat 33. Scheveningen, Den Haag.
London:
W. H. Bradbury, Buchanan's Buildings, Holborn, E.C.1.
Telephone: Holborn 5496
New Zealand:
Thomas Webb & Co., Ltd., Ormiston Buildings, Albert Street, Auckland.
S. America:
Leopoldo Repetto, Bme. Mitre 025, Buenos Aires.
South Africa:
A. C. J. Maasdyk & Son Ltd., Stuttafords Chambers, Durban.
142, Market Street, Johannesburg.
308, Boston House, Cape Town.
Beswick Restoration
A useful service for the repair of Beswick Ceramics. The restorers have lots of experience in restoring both Art Deco and later pottery items. This site offers a premium museum quality service and also a bugdet repair service for items of lower or sentimental value.
We would like to thank Ceramics Repair for supplying some of the images and information that is contained within this website.
Help us with content
We are eager to improve and add to the Beswick content on this website. If you would like to contribute then please email details to us. If you have any Beswick pottery items you'd like displayed on the website then please email details - we'll then reply so you can send in photos. Thank you.
