Buckley slipware pot and cover

A large Buckley slipware earthenware pot with cover  The dark red clay banded in ochre slip, and the top half with transparent glaze  Lovely colour. Small chip to the rim.  19th century

Height:        9.25"   ( 23 cm)

Diameter:    8.5"    (22cm)

£ 140

Ref  147

Buckley Potteries

Buckley is a small town in Flintshire, North Wales, which was a centre of folk art pottery production from medieval times until the 1940s. Around 40 potteries operated at any one time, the most productive time being from the late 17th through to the late 18th century, although there was still an extensive market for Buckley slipware in the 19th century, when most of the pieces available to us today were made.

Large thrown storage vessels for household and dairy use along with press moulded baking dishes with bold slip decoration are characteristic of Buckley wares.. Towards the end of the 19th century with the decline in the market for brown household pottery the potters diversified and produced smaller decorative pieces. During the Industrial Revolution the name Buckley became synonymous with the production of fire-clay earthenware.

The geology of the local area and the presence of coal, pot clay and fire clay meant that pottery manufacture could be carried out cheaply and easily. Another important benefit was a plentiful supply of potter's lead for the making of the  glaze. Lead had been mined nearby at Halkyn and Rhosesmor since Roman times. Buckley was also in a good geographical situation for transporting its wares by sea.