11
East London potteries
These ceramics trace the shift from imported luxury porcelain to goods made in east London.
In the 1700s, scientists across Europe raced to replicate the fine, translucent porcelain produced in East Asia. Britain’s breakthrough came in 1740s east London with the discoveries of soft-paste porcelain and bone china. Many local designs still reflected global tastes. Made in Bow and Limehouse, these blue and white homewares were inspired by Chinese imports while the delicate floral patterns on this beaker were influenced by the Japanese Kakiemon style.
Written by: Simon Spier, Curator, Ceramics and Glass
Published: April 2026
Sourcebook for Design
- Museum Number
- CIRC.291-1916
- Description
- Cup
- Location and Date
- China, 17th century
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Glazing
- Museum Number
- C.638&A-1924
- Description
- Coffee pot and cover
- Artist/Maker
- Limehouse porcelain factory
- Location and Date
- London, ca. 1745-1748
- Materials/Techniques
- Soft paste porcelain, Cobalt oxide, Painted, Glazed, Moulded
- Museum Number
- C.27-1928
- Description
- Cup
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- Bow, 1750-1755
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Glazing (coating)
- Museum Number
- C.535-1924
- Description
- Pickle tray
- Artist/Maker
- Limehouse porcelain factory
- Location and Date
- London, ca. 1745-1748
- Materials/Techniques
- Soft paste porcelain, Cobalt oxide, Painted, Glazed
- Museum Number
- C.1246/&A-1924
- Description
- Vase and cover
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- Bow, ca. 1747-49
- Materials/Techniques
- Soft paste porcelain, Enamels, Painted
- Museum Number
- C.967-1910
- Description
- Vase
- Artist/Maker
- Qianlong
- Location and Date
- China, 1735-1795
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Enamel (paint), Painted
- Museum Number
- C.487-1924
- Description
- Plate
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- London, third quarter of 18th century
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Cobalt oxide, Painted, Glazed
- Museum Number
- C.188-1931
- Description
- Dish
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Jingdezhen, 1600-1644
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Cobalt blue, Blue and white
- Museum Number
- C.410-1924
- Description
- Plate
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- London, 1750-1775
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Cobalt oxide, Painted, Glazed
- Museum Number
- C.729-1910
- Description
- Vase
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Jingdezhen, 1662-1722
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Cobalt oxide, Glazed, Painted, Blue and white
- Museum Number
- 1624-1876
- Description
- Beaker vase
- Location and Date
- Japan, About 1700
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Enamels, Glazing, Enamelling, Gilt
- Museum Number
- C.220-1940
- Description
- Beaker
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- Bow, ca. 1755
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Painted, Gilded
- Museum Number
- C.178A-1935
- Description
- Sweetmeat dish
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- Bow, ca. 1760
- Materials/Techniques
- Soft paste porcelain, Enamels, Painted
- Museum Number
- CIRC.813-1956
- Description
- Tureen
- Artist/Maker
- Meissen
- Location and Date
- Germany, 18th century
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Firing
- Museum Number
- 2862-1901
- Description
- Sagger
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- Bow, 18th century
- Materials/Techniques
- Clay, Firing
- Museum Number
- 414:132/V-1885
- Description
- Fragment
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- London, ca. 1755
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Firing
- Museum Number
- 2842-1901
- Description
- Fragment
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- Bow, 1744-1776
- Materials/Techniques
- Soft paste porcelain, Applied work
- Museum Number
- 414:132/S-1885
- Description
- Fragment
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- London, ca. 1755
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Firing
- Museum Number
- 414:132/D-1885
- Description
- Fragment
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- London, ca. 1755
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Firing
- Museum Number
- 414:132-1885
- Description
- Mould
- Artist/Maker
- Bow Porcelain Factory
- Location and Date
- London, ca. 1755
- Materials/Techniques
- Porcelain, Impressed
- Museum Number
- C.866-1924
- Description
- Mug
- Artist/Maker
- Limehouse porcelain factory
- Location and Date
- London, ca. 1745-1748
- Materials/Techniques
- Soft paste porcelain, Cobalt oxide, Painted, Glazed