At our Plateware factory in Stoke-on-Trent, England, pottery is a way of life.
There are few places left in the world like Stoke-on-Trent, England.
Since the 17th century, the city has been a pottery hub, in large part thanks to its proximity to clay and coal. The citizen’s take enormous pride in their trade, always looking to push the limits of experimentation and craftsmanship. Bottle Ovens, large kilns, stagger themselves throughout the grounds, and the local soccer team is proudly called “The Potters.”
Because of the artisan’s unique commitment to craftsmanship, it was the clear choice to produce our Plateware. In the past, the factory only produced for restaurants, and we are the first company to bring this same high-quality to your home. After going through the hands of artisans, many of whom have been honing their craft for over 40 years, and 53 individual quality checks, the end result isn’t just beautiful, it’s well-crafted, ripe with history and incomparably durable. And best of all, all excess clay is recycled making it one of the most sustainable manufacturing processes in the world. Here’s how we get it done.
Our clay isn’t shipped in from distant countries—instead all of it is harvested along the English coastline. Once delivered to Stoke-on-Trent, all impurities are removed from the clay to ensure it is perfect for shaping and forming. Alumina is added to the mixture, which provides unrivaled strength, color, and impeccable heat retention capabilities to all of our plates, bowls, and serving platters.
All of our molds are made in house to ensure each piece comes out exactly as it should, before it heads to the kiln for firing. After the first firing in the kiln, our pieces get stamped with the Made In logo. Our red and navy rimmed Plateware is loaded onto a machine that applies the signature painted rim.
Our pieces are suspended by three pins, allowing for a fully glazed back in order to reduce scratching when the pieces are stacked. This imbues a tiny beauty mark on them, which does not impact the functionality of the piece, and is in fact, only a sign of the high quality process it has gone through. After one final check to make sure all products are perfect, they are ready to be shipped to our warehouse.
These craftsmen have been making the most refined plateware for the world’s best restaurants and hotels for over 150 years, and now, for the first time, you can experience them in your own home.
Born out of a 100-year old, family-owned restaurant supply business, we work to ensure our Cookware is as detail oriented as the chefs who choose to use it in their kitchens.
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