LONDON – Burberry’s former designer and chief executive Christopher Bailey is back, and has joined a small group of investors to acquire Burleigh Pottery, the British ceramics house founded in 1851 and known for its highly-detailed, handmade designs.
The oldest, continuously working Victorian potter in England, Burleigh is best known for its “tissue transfer printing” technique that sees intricate pigmented patterns transferred onto raw clay. It is the last heritage pottery company in the world still using this traditional method, which requires years of training.
The company, based near Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, is internationally recognized, with a particularly strong following in the U.K., Japan and the U.S.
Its designs, including Asiatic Pheasants, Arden, Calico and Regal Peacock, are considered benchmark examples of English tissue transfer ware. The company has myriad partnerships with brands including Ralph Lauren, Soho House and Daylesford.
Bailey said he has always loved Burleigh pottery. “This company has an extraordinary history, and what makes it so special today is the skill, care and creative spirit that continue to define the business. It is a privilege to become part of that story,” he said.
