Emma Bridgewater

Emma Bridgewater is a British ceramics manufacturing company founded in 1985. Specialising in earthenware tableware.[1][2][3][4] they are noted for their polka dot design among others. The company is one of the largest pottery manufacturers based entirely in the UK.[5]

Bus with Emma Bridgewater livery

Emma Bridgewater Limited
TypePrivate
IndustryCeramics
Founded1985 (1985)
FounderEmma Bridgewater 
Owners
  • Emma Rice
  • Matthew Rice
Websitewww.emmabridgewater.co.uk
A mug made by the company
A plate made by the company

There are two Emma Bridgewater shops in London as well as an outlet store located at the company's factory in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

History
Bridgewater Pottery Works, Eastwood, Hanley

The company was founded by Emma Bridgewater when being unable to find a suitable cup and saucer for a gift she decided to create her own. Drawing four shapes, a mug, a bowl, a jug and a dish, samples were created in Stoke-on-Trent.[6]

In its first year the company had a turnover of around £30,000. By 2009 this had increased to almost £8 million,[6] and £11 million in 2010, employing 180 people.[7] According to their website, in 2022 around 230 people worked their factory and produce 1.7 million pieces annually.[8]

Products

Emma Bridgewater's pottery designs are also adapted for application onto textiles, glass, tin, stationery, and melamine.[9] During a visit by Prince Andrew, Emma discussed the brand's launch of its biggest ever collection of Royal commemorative ware to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.[10]

"Festival in a Factory"

For the last few years, the Emma Bridgewater factory in Stoke on Trent has been the home to the "Festival in a Factory" a 3-day literary festival where a number of authors, politicians, artists and celebrities give public lectures.[11] The 2020 Festival, planned for 4–6 June,[12] was cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recent speakers included: Mary Portas, Viv Groskop Elizabeth Day, Christopher Eccleston, Lauren Child, AN Wilson, historian Tom Holland, author Ben Macintyre, historian Andrew Roberts, Rachel Reeves MP, Greepeace UK's Will McCallum, biographer Jenny Uglow, the National Trust's Nino Strachey, the V&A's Oriole Cullen and Claire Wilcox, and novelist Deborah Moggach.[13]

Founder and owners

The company is named after Emma Rice, née Bridgewater, and is run by her and her husband Matthew Rice.[14]

In 2016, the company's namesake was made President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.[15] She is also a Patron of the Heritage Crafts Association.

Matthew Bridgewater also designs for the company, and he indulges his passion for birdlife in the Birds range.[9]

Bibliography
  • Toast & marmalade and other stories. London: Saltyard Books. 2014. ISBN 978-1-44473-491-1.
  • Pattern. London: Saltyard Books. 2016. ISBN 978-1-44473-494-2.

References
  2. 'The UK Ceramic Marketing Strategy in response to globalization.' N.Ewins. Conference Of Historical Analysis And Research In Marketing (CHARM). 30 May - 2 Jun 2013. Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
  3. [http://visualarts.britishcouncil.org/collection/artists/bridgewater-emma-1960
  5. "About the Company at Emma Bridgewater". www.emmabridgewater.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  6. "Emma Bridgewater: The success of a pottery design business". The Daily Telegraph. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  7. "Emma Bridgewater". BBC Business News. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  9. Knight, Kathryn (30 March 2014). "Pottery designer Emma Bridgewater: The woman who inspired my designs". Express. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  10. "Emma Bridgewater launches Jubilee collection | 6 Towns Radio". 6towns.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015.
  11. Video of the 2019 highlights
  12. The cancelled 2020 programme
  13. speaker list
  14. Wheater, Caroline. "Emma Bridgewater". BBC Homes and Antiques. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  15. "CPRE". www.cpre.org.uk. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
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