This part teaset is a wonderful example of Belleek ceramics. The famous Belleek Pottery was set up by John Caldwell Bloomfield, William Armstrong and David McBirney in 1858 in Belleek, County Fermanagh, in Northern Ireland. The set (was designed by Katie Armstrong, daughter of Armstrong, in a nautical style . This particular design is named 'Neptune' and has been produced from about 1880 to the present day (2005). It is named after Neptune, in Roman mythology the god of the sea, and its design incorporates several sea shells, the common limpet with coral for a handle and small pond snail shells for feet. The listed Belleek colourways were 'white, cob, green, pink and butterscotch' and these items feature the first four. The 'Neptune' pattern was produced during what is known as the second Belleek period. There were three decorative finishes: plain ivory - the most commonly made; lustre - the insides of cups and bowls had a yellow lustrous tone; tinted and gilded - the edges with a tint of colour, usually green, latterly pink, and accented in gold, the most expensive treatment. During the second period some pieces were crested with town/country/etc coats of arms, much in the style of Goss.
Bloomfield set up the pottery in Belleek on land inherited from his father. He discovered that the land held all the raw materials necessary to make pottery and the river Erne provided the water power to drive a mill wheel to grind these components into slip or liquid potters clay. Bloomfield persuaded the government to extend the railway line to Belleek and this provided access to markets and easy supply of coal for the kilns. Initial production was mostly earthenware, which was made until 1946. The company's first parian (unglazed porcelain) ware was exhibited at the Dublin Exposition of 1872. From 1920 parian ware became major part of the production. 14 craftsmen were engaged from Stoke-on-Trent in England with skills needed to establish the pottery. By 1865 Belleek pottery, principally earthenware, was being exported to Canada, the United States and Australia . The company became known as the Belleek Pottery Works Company Ltd in 1884. In 2005 the Belleek Group employed over 600 people and had a turnover of Â?40 million. The Powerhouse holds many other examples of Belleek pottery in its collection.

John Bloomfield set up the pottery in Belleek, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland on land inherited from his father. He discovered that the land held all the raw materials necessary to make pottery and the river Erne provided the water power to drive a mill wheel to grind these components into slip or liquid clay. Bloomfield persuaded the government to extend the railway line to Belleek and this provided access to markets and an easy supply of coal for the kilns. Initial production was mostly earthenware, which was produced until 1946. The company's first parian (porcelain) ware was exhibited at the Dublin Exposition of 1872. From 1920 parian ware became a major part of the production .

'Kaolin is the chemical name for China Clay, the truest clay as it has no contamination from metallic elements which would cause the fired colour of the clay to change. Feldspar is derived from decomposed granite and gives the translucence to the Belleek clay body.

Earthenware bodies are normally naturally curing (Terracotta) but white earthenware as used by Belleek would have had China clay as the basic ingredient but would have also had a sufficient amount of ball clay to give it plasticity.' Fergus Cleary, Head of Design, Belleek Pottery, January 2005

The 'Nautical' style of which there were several themes, this an example of 'Neptune', has been produced from 1880 to the present day (2005). The design is named after Neptune, Lord of the Seas, and aptly incorporates several sea shells. Figured are the common Limpet, and the Blue Rayed Limpet and the Scallop with Coral for a handle and Small Pond Snail shells for feet.The listed Belleek colourways were 'white, cob, green, pink and butterscotch' . This style was produced during the second and all subsequent periods.

In 1858 John Caldwell Bloomfield set up a pottery in Belleek, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, on land inherited from his father. Seeking to provide employment for locals suffering through the potato famine, he imported 14 craftsmen from Stoke-on-Trent in England with skills needed to establish the pottery. By 1865 their pottery, principally earthenware, was being exported to Canada, the United States and Australia and they had a growing market in Ireland and England. Their first porcelain was featured at the Dublin Exposition in 1872. The company became known as the Belleek Pottery Works Company Ltd in 1884. In 2005 the Belleek Group employs over 600 people and has a turnover of Â?40 million.

Set of four cups and saucers and milk jug, porcelain, Belleek Pottery Works, County Fermanagh, Ireland, designed c.1880, made in 1902-1919

Four matching tea cups and saucers and milk jug in white porcelain moulded in the shape of a textured, domed shell with tiny feet and handles resembling small shells and coral branches. Each cup and saucer is pearl glazed inside, around the edge of the saucer and on the handle with a different pastel colour - pink, green and yellow. The inside and handle of the jug are also yellow.

Made: Belleek Pottery Limited; Fermanagh, Northern Ireland; 1902 - 1919

Designed: 1875 - 1885

Each piece has a faded trade mark on base (Second Black Mark, 1891-1926)

This mark was used in compliance with the 1891 McKinley Tariff Act and the 1887 British Merchandising Act requiring the country of origin to be specified.

'The dates are hard to firm up exactly but I tend to block them as 1891-1902, backstamps are of good quality, 1902-1919 backstamps are poor, faded and partly burnt off - all signs of problems and the fact that these were sold, points to the probability that they were not able to solve the problems. 1919-1925 quality good once more....I think that the evidence points to inferior glaze being used. We know the pottery was in financial difficulty and being a shareholding company of mainly small shareholders there was a demand for a return every year on the original investments. This put considerable pressure on the management to cut costs. During the First World War supplies of china clay from Cornwall and Feldspar from Norway were curtailed due to submarine warfare and the fact that these were not vital materials during the war. Belleek reopened the feldspar mine near Belleek and got china clay from Castlecomer in County Kilkenny. Both these, it is believed were of lower standard. All of these issues were solved when the company was sold during 1919, the new company was made up of reasonably wealthy individuals who were interested in maintaining quality and prepared to think of the longer term investment.'

Fergus Cleary, Head of Design, Belleek Pottery, 4/1/2005

2005/53/2

1902 - 1919