Traditional Industries, panel

Traditional Industries, panel
at Burslem

Location: Woodbank Street, Burslem (at the roadside)
Installed: 1992
Commissioned by: Staffordshire County Council
Sculptor: John McKenna

Each of the three reliefs is situated within a black edged arch,
with the head of the arch being shaped to reflect the image within the arch.

These sculptures celebrate three traditional industries of Burslem, brick manufacture, mining and pottery.

Description:
Each of the three reliefs is situated within a black edged arch, with the head of the arch being shaped to reflect the image within the arch.
The relief of the coal miner is within a frame that has the shape of a pithead's two wheels. He kneels on one knee and uses a pickaxe to chip at the coal face that surrounds him.
The second and largest relief shows a potter working on a potter's wheel. It is set within a frame in the shape of a pottery kiln. The bowls he is manufacturing are hardening on a shelf in the foreground of the image.
The last relief is set within a frame in the shape of a brick kiln. It shows a brickmaker removing a brick from its mould with two shelves of bricks hardening in the background.
These sculptures celebrate three traditional industries of Burslem, brick manufacture, mining and pottery.

Background:
Staffordshire County Council adopted a 'percent for art' policy in 1990. This has been a successful method of introducing the work of artists and craftsmen into all new capital schemes, such as road improvements and schools.

Materials:

Part of work

Material

Dimensions

Reliefs

Coloured bricks, black, brown, blue, tan

Triptych 5.4m wide x 9.5m high

Part of work	Material	Dimensions
Reliefs	Coloured bricks, black, brown, blue, tan	Triptych 5.4m wide x 9.5m high

The relief of the coal miner is within a frame that has the shape of a pithead's two wheels.
He kneels on one knee and uses a pickaxe to chip at the coal face that surrounds him.

The second and largest relief shows a potter working on a potter's wheel.
It is set within a frame in the shape of a pottery kiln.
The bowls he is manufacturing are hardening on a shelf in the foreground of the image.

The last relief is set within a frame in the shape of a brick kiln.
It shows a brickmaker removing a brick from its mould with
two shelves of bricks hardening in the background.