‘B’ is for Beswick
The Beswick company was established in Staffordshire in the 1920s, originally it produced table wares and ornaments such as Staffordshire cats and dogs. By the 1930s it was producing high quality china figurines, farm animals, horses and dogs,the famous flying ducks which once were considered vulgar have now became popular collector’s items. Disney characters and Beatrix Potter figures were added to the range in the 1940s and the figurines are probably what Beswick pottery is best known for. However, Beswick some pronounce it as Besick did respond to the demand for fashion pottery during the 1950s and 60s and it is the bold abstract designs such as the Circus, Ballet and Zebra-striped table ware that Janet is most interested in.
As with many china manufacturers who saw consolidation and mergers as the way forward Beswick sold to Royal Doulton in 1969, the production of figures continued but the Beswick backstamp was dropped, the company ceased production in 2002.
Below is one of Janet’s favourite Beswick items, it makes her smile whenever she looks at the 1950s Majolica Pineapple piled high with fruit sitting majestically on her black glass dining table.