The Brownhills Pottery Co

Earthenware manufacturer at Brownhills, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

The works were previously owned by George Frederick Bowers and after his death continued by his son Frederick until 1871 when the business failed.
On his failure in 1871 the manufactory was purchased by Mr. James Eardley, of Alsager.
The business was carried on by James Eardley's son and sons-in-law, Messrs. Alfred J. Eardley, Edwin Meir, William H. Bratt, Robert H. Parker, and George Hammersley, under the style of "The Brownhills Pottery Co."
The Brownhills Pottery Company was selected to exhibit at the Paris Exhibition of 1878. They exhibited "Dinner, dessert, &c., ware, floor and roof tiles, &c."

Brownhills Works — "These works (formerly Marsh and Haywoods) were for many years carried on by Mr. George F. Bowers, who attained a fair reputation for china goods, and gained a medal at the Exhibition of 1851. Subsequently he commenced the manufacture of earthenware, which he continued until his death, when he was succeeded by his son, Mr. Frederick F. Bowers.

On his failure in 1871 the manufactory was purchased by Mr. James Eardley, of Alsager and it is now (1878) carried on by his son and sons-in-law, Messrs. Alfred J. Eardley, Edwin Meir, William H. Bratt, Robert H. Parker, and George Hammersley, under the style of "The Brownhills Pottery Co."

Considerable alterations and extensions have been made in the buildings. The goods produced by the Company are of the usual useful classes of table, tea, toilet, and other requisites, in fine earthenware, stoneware, buff, turquoise, and cream-coloured ware ; and in decorations of the fine earthenware services improvements have been effected by which the printing of enamel upon the glaze, and lining on the bisque, are effected. The last is produced at considerable less cost than enamel lines, and while making a tolerably near approach
in point of colour, is more durable, because protected by the glaze.

The body and glaze are of good quality, and the decorations, whether printed or painted, are of good average character. In dinner services some of their more recent patterns, are the "Premier," "Pagoda" and "Dragon" which are produced both printed and enamelled; their most successful shapes are the "Bulrush", "Laurel", and "Boston".

In toilet ware their "Greek" shape, is remarkably good, and is made in various degrees of decoration. In stone ware, some excellent designs in teapots, jugs, &c., are produced, as are also jugs and other useful articles in cream ware ; the adaptations of Japanese ornamentation in the former are highly successful.

In jet ware, which is of good quality, tea-pots, jugs, and other articles are made, and some of those are highly decorated in enamel and gold; the firm also have a process of printing in yellow upon the glaze of their jet goods, which produces a cheap and somewhat effective class of decoration.

Another speciality is a rich full deep-red terra cotta, highly glazed, and elaborately decorated in a variety of effective patterns in enamel and gold; in this, toilet services of good design and novel appearance are largely made.

In ornamental goods the Company produce vases of various forms (notably among which are the "Hindoo," "Milan," " Pekin," and other designs) ; scent jars, flower tubes, and stands, and other articles. The productions are of a good useful quality, decorated in a more than ordinarily artistic style ; many of the designs (notably the " Briony" pattern toilet services, "Lome " teapots, &c.) are good, and the colours faultless.

The marks used, besides the name of the pattern, "Minerva," " Link" "Laurel," &c., bear the initials B. P. Co., with ribbon, &c., printed on the ware.

Llewellynn Jewitt - Ceramic Art of Great Britain; 1878

The Brownhills Pottery Company was selected to exhibit at the Paris Exhibition of 1878