The final piece of Denby Pottery, finished in its iconic Imperial Blue glaze, has been signed by the man who designed the range more than 35 years ago. Richard Eaton collected and signed the bowl, the company said on Monday, marking the end of centuries of production at the Derbyshire firm.
Founded in 1809, Denby Pottery appointed administrators on 31 March after struggling with rising energy and labour costs. In a post on its Facebook page, the company said it was "truly grateful for the outpouring of love and support at this difficult time."
“The final piece of Denby Pottery has been signed, marking the end of centuries of production after administrators failed to find a buyer.”
Announcing its decision to appoint administrators, the company said reduced demand, "escalating" employment costs and soaring energy costs had "squeezed the business financially." A #SaveDenby campaign encouraging people to buy more products was launched, but administrators said they failed to find a buyer, leading to the end of production.
Another petition, titled "support the ceramics industry and protect British manufacturing jobs and skills," has reached more than 105,000 signatures, passing the threshold to be considered for a debate in Parliament.
Linsey Farnsworth, Labour MP for Amber Valley, said she had "promised to fight for Denby Pottery until the very last moment." She added: "This is an incredibly devastating moment for our entire community. Denby Pottery is so much more than just a trademark name. It is handcrafted, sustainable tableware made right here from our local clay. Being made in Denby, in Amber Valley, in Derbyshire, is what gave this world-renowned pottery its soul, built entirely on the irreplaceable skill, pride, and craftsmanship passed down through generations of local families."
In a statement, the company thanked its workers and customers for their support. "Centuries of making pottery at Denby may be coming to a close, but the love and soul poured into each piece will live on," it said. "Denby would not have been able to continue for this long without generations of dedicated, skilled people."
International subsidiaries of Denby in Korea, the US and China are not in administration and will continue to operate as normal. Meanwhile, fellow pottery firm Burleigh, which was acquired by Denby in 2010, has been taken on by a small group of investors, including former Burberry Group chief executive Christopher Bailey. The company, also known as Burgess and Leigh, said the acquisition meant production at its Middleport Pottery base in Stoke-on-Trent would continue without interruption.