Ceramic City Stories | The Firing Line

The Firing Line is one of the world’s last ceramic tile works still using traditional heritage skills, techniques & technology (including c.100 year old cast iron dust presses). Ceramic City Stories* (non profit) & The Firing Line have been working closely for the last three years & are based in the same historical building; Winkhill Mill, Stoke-on-Trent, England (UK). This partnership & these activities continue to evolve as we explore exciting new creative opportunities together.

The Art Tile Company | Etruria Works, Garner Street, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, England (UK)

Our latest joint venture is The Art Tile Company Collection. Visionary Designer & Entrepreneur Timothy Strevens Evitt led this important Stoke-on-Trent company to success nearly 40 years ago. After early trials in his ‘garden shed’ (studio); he assembled some of the best artists & technical experts available & established the company’s manufacturing base in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent. Tim Evitt’s vision & ambition was to replicate the finest high quality Victorian & early 20th Century tiles using a combination of traditional & contemporary techniques & authentic manufacturing processes. This resulted in a wide range of creative products & some of the best (re)productions since the originals were first made more than a century ago in The Potteries & further afield. The team produced dust pressed & relief moulded tiles decorated with detailed transfer prints, hand painted designs & sumptuous glaze colours. These replicas were made to exacting standards & used (at the time) in many settings including prestigious restoration projects, commercial premises & private houses.

The Art Tile Company was recognised as a market leader at the time & their products are highly valued & sought after vintage items today. It was previously assumed that most of the firm’s archive stock had been lost; that was until the rediscovery of a significant quantity of original tiles & borders. This stock was saved when The Art Tile Company sadly ceased trading in the early 1990s. This exciting find offers a unique opportunity to create a lasting collection & historical record of The Art Tile Company’s celebrated production catalogue. It also provides an opportunity for you to own part of that history by buying some of the limited surplus stock of these exquisite vintage tiles. Each tile sale will help Ceramic City Stories & The Firing Line map & preserve this collection & continue to develop our wider working partnership.

Maw & Co. | Welby House, Sneyd Hill, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England (UK)

We are also excited to announce that we have recently discovered a small quantity of high quality encaustic (inlaid) floor tiles. These stunning vintage tiles were produced by Maw & Co in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent nearly a quarter century ago using designs & manufacturing techniques that date from the early 1800s. The last incarnation of this historical company was (re)established to produce replica tiles for a number of prestigious restoration commissions including the Palace of Westminster (London), U.S. Capitol Building (Washington) & Central Park’s Bethesda Terrace (NYC). Maw & Co had a long & illustrious history & truly global reputation. The company was one of the UK’s leading tile manufacturers & competed successfully with Mssrs. Minton & Hollins for prestigious commissions & valuable export markets across the world (USA, Australia, South Africa, etc). We can now offer you a unique opportunity to own an authentic part of that 170 year ceramic legacy. These rare & majestic encaustic productions (cut & uncut) are believed to be the last remaining archive stock ever produced by Maw & Co.

Danny Callaghan (Ceramic City Stories) & Richard Wilshaw (The Firing Line) are working closely to explore & archive The Art Tile Company Collection. We are also sorting, organising & selling surplus stock to help with the associated costs. You can help us develop this partnership by searching tiles for sale in our online shop (click here).

*Ceramic City Stories C.I.C. 959467

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