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ABOUT
CALICO
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Burgess Dorling & Leigh,
maker of Burleighware ®,
is the only pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
which makes all of its blue and white ware using the ancient
print-transfer process.
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How Calico is Made
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Burleigh's Calico is an English Staffordshire
under-glaze "transfer print" decoration
that begins with the skilled hands of an engraver
and a copper plate.
Once the pattern is meticulously engraved onto the plate,
navy blue ink is spread over the top of the copper engraving.
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A very fine tissue paper, such as used in old-style dress
patterns, is then placed over the inked plates and rollers
are used to transfer the pattern onto the paper; thus the
term "transfer print".
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The tissue is then hung, literally on clothes line, and left to dry
only long enough for the ink to become a tacky consistency, and then
passed on to the decorators.
The paper is then cut to various sizes
and pressed into place by hand onto the pottery; on some pieces
the print is tapped into place with a small rubber mallet. The paper
is then rubbed with a small stiff brush lubricated with soap, transferring
the ink to the pottery.
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Even the backstamp is applied by hand, using the same print-transfer method.
On the Blue Calico pieces, the backstamp reads Calico - Burleigh - Staffordshire England.
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Next, the paper is washed off the piece with
warm water, leaving only the inked pattern on the pottery.
The pottery is then sent through the firing process. During the first firing
any remaining tissue burns off, leaving the ink, or color, on the piece of
pottery, and at that point the Calico pattern is seen only as a matte,
brown color.
The piece is then glazed and fired again and it is during the second
firing that the color turns blue.
This method was invented in England around 1760 and Calico is made
today exactly as it was in the 1800s!
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Burgess, Dorling and Leigh is the only pottery in
Stoke-on-Trent which makes all of its blue and white ware
using this ancient process and in this new century
the Calico pattern still remains a favorite for many, and is
much sought after.
Still decorated by hand, which is both costly and time consuming,
there will never be an over-abundance of Calico at any one time.
Whether you own a complete table setting, or only one special piece,
you can take pride in knowing you own something not only lovely,
but unique.
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Tour Middleport Pottery, the home of
Burgess Dorling & Leigh Ltd.,
makers of Blue Calico and other fine Burleigh Ware.
(Courtesy of Steve Birks)
(This link is on another site, and will open in a
new window)
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