Experimentation and Placemaking: connecting communities with the technological and innovation histories of London's early porcelain manufacturers
Lead Research Organisation:
Victoria and Albert Museum
Department Name: Conservation
Abstract
This project will explore how English porcelain came to develop, focusing in particular on the work of the 18th-century Chelsea and Bow factories, the first two manufacturers in Great Britain to produce the so-called soft-paste porcelain, created at the time to replicate the highly coveted Chinese and Japanese export porcelain and to compete with European counterparts in Meissen, Du Paquier and Chantilly. Bringing together porcelain collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), the Ashmolean Museum, and Newham Archives, the project will use the expanded capacity of the V&A's CapCo-funded Scientific Laboratory to trace London porcelain experimentation, manufacturing and trade networks, showcasing little known objects from the three collections. It will demonstrate the uses of science-led analysis to generate new understandings in heritage and cultural history research, the role of the V&A Lab as a national hub for heritage science, and will offer the general public opportunities for new ways of engaging with ceramics collections through the V&A Lab. The public engagement programme will include 'museum scientist for a day' workshops for 6th form students, ceramics making sessions in which historic porcelain recipes will be used to create new work, as well as London ceramics walks and a new Bow ceramic display at Stratford Library, showcasing Newham Archives' little-known ceramics collections.
In considering Bow and Chelsea we will be bringing together two areas of London occupied by current and future V&A sites - South Kensington in West London and Stratford in East London (where a new collections Storehouse and a new V&A Museum are due to open in 2024 and 2025 respectively), both with a strong focus on craft, making and innovation. The scientific analysis of the select porcelain pieces will provide a unique opportunity to focus on the process of experimenting with, designing, making and manufacturing much-desired western white body porcelain, and explore how the creativity and ingenuity of 18th-century ceramics pioneers may provide inspiration for current and future makers and artists.
In considering Bow and Chelsea we will be bringing together two areas of London occupied by current and future V&A sites - South Kensington in West London and Stratford in East London (where a new collections Storehouse and a new V&A Museum are due to open in 2024 and 2025 respectively), both with a strong focus on craft, making and innovation. The scientific analysis of the select porcelain pieces will provide a unique opportunity to focus on the process of experimenting with, designing, making and manufacturing much-desired western white body porcelain, and explore how the creativity and ingenuity of 18th-century ceramics pioneers may provide inspiration for current and future makers and artists.
Publications
| Title | Investigations into Material Geographies, Exploring the Colonial Legacies of Unaker, 2022 |
| Description | Commissioned artwork created by Maria Dragoi and Astrid Walker, Young Practice-led researchers for the CapCo project, and installed as part of Stratford Library exhibition. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Broadening public understanding of material histories of porcelain |
| URL | https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/projects/making-east-london-porcelain-photo-essay |
| Title | Making East London Porcelain Exhibition, Ground Floor, Stratford Library, 1-30 June 2022 |
| Description | It is now over 250 years since the earliest dated pieces of Bow porcelain were produced in London. The success of the Bow porcelain factory, which was located in the vicinity of the current site of the QE Olympic Park, reminds us that Newham was a global centre for experimentation and creativity during the middle of the 18th century. As part of our Making London Porcelain Project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), scientists and curators at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Ashmolean Museum have been researching 15 objects owned by London Borough of Newham. Using scientific analysis, we have been trying to better understand the materials and processes used to create such incredible works of art. Making East London Porcelain is part of a collaborative science-led heritage project between the V&A Museum and Newham Borough of London, which has been made possible by the Arts and Humanities Research Council's (AHRC) Capability for Collections Fund. Focusing on the celebrated Bow Porcelain Factory, once located in the vicinity of the QE Olympic Park, this project brings communities together to explore Newham Borough as a place of creativity, experimentation and entrepreneurship in the mid-eighteenth century. Co-curated with sixth-form students from Chobham Academy (Newham) and Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School (Chelsea), the exhibition explores how heritage science and re-making practices can help us better understand the places we live today and inspire us to innovate and experiment tomorrow. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Requests from general public for London Borough of Newham to bring their stored collection of Bow Porcelain objects back into the borough and put on display. This was the first time in 20 years the general public have seen objects from their collection. |
| URL | https://www.newhamheritagemonth.org/events/making-east-london-porcelain-exhibition/ |
| Title | Plaster press moulds of historic Bow Porcelain Factory objects, taken from London Borough of Newham objects |
| Description | Plaster press mould of historic Bow Porcelain Factory objects, taken from London Borough of Newham objects, which were then used by students and general public to re-create sculptural Bow Porcelain pieces. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | - Deepened understanding of the technical process of making sculptural ceramics - Excellent teaching tool with schools and general public |
| Title | Re-creations of historic porcelain recipes using modern materials |
| Description | Haseldine developed a series of porcelain recipes for artistic use based on the scientific analysis conducted by Burgio and Domoney using modern materials and adaptations. This is the recipe we have created based on the information given in the historic patent: 40g Kaolin 10g Potash Feldspar 10g Quartz The second Bow 'New Canton' patent from 1749 describes the innovative use of calcined bone ash (calcium phosphate) as a flux, which they called "virgin earth". They were the first English manufacturer to use bone ash, an important precedent for what is sometimes called 'Bone China' that you might still use in your kitchen today. We remade their recipe based on the scientific analysis conducted on the London Borough of Newham objects: 15g Ball Clay 15g Quartz 28g Bone Ash 2g High Alkaline Frit (Optional: add 0.05g cobalt oxide to the mixture, giving it a 'mushroom' tone) Chelsea 'Glassy' 30 g ball clay; 7.5 g quartz; 6 g flint; 6 g high alkaline frit; 3 g potash feldspar See full details in Appendix. A on below URL. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | - Requests from contemporary ceramic artists for these recipes for them to work with. - New understandings of composition of porcelain |
| URL | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/2/105#:~:text=Making%20London%20Porcelain%20was%20the,the%20London%... |
| Title | Series of porcelain test tiles and sculptures |
| Description | Series of porcelain test tiles and sculptures made by 30 school children and 45 members of the general public using their own porcelains at making workshops in May and June 2022. These were fired and given to the participants as a memento. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Learning of new skills |
| Description | - The award enabled the introduction of heritage and conservation science to young people who were not familiar with the concepts. The project was an eye opener and revealed new career paths for them. - We made the workshop and interactive event participants aware of the distinguished past of *their own* inner London areas, in terms of creativity, scientific innovation, and craftsmanship. This strengthened their relationship with and appreciation for their local surroundings and urban context. - Enrichment of local resources: London Borough of Newham have decided, after seeing the impact of the project, that there is the need for the Bow porcelain archive to go back into the borough from its out-of-London storage, and are actively applying for funds to support this endeavour. - This has been an important pilot which has enabled the V&A to start planning on how to integrate heritage science and its dissemination through the community into the new locations in East London. - We gathered high quality scientific evidence from heritage objects which are usually not allowed out of their institution, and comparing data for objects which share a connection or commonality in their genesis and provenance, but are usually not available side by side for a direct comparison. |
| Exploitation Route | - The feedback we received from schools on the days of their workshops indicates that the work done with KS5 students can be used by teachers to create similar cross-disciplinary activities and resources in the KS4 and KS5 curriculum. - Conservation science and heritage science can be included as a possible career path in school leavers' awareness. - Scholars and researchers worldwide will be able to access our output and use it. - The feedback we received from the Newham Archives shows that the collaborative model used for this project can be extended to other projects and other institutions, and expand the future use of the V&A Science Lab by other institutions without in-house access to scientific equipment and expertise. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy Education Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://www.vam.ac.uk/research/projects/making-london-porcelain |
| Description | According to the feedback we received, we have strengthened the relationship between the workshop and public event participants on one side and their local surroundings and urban context on the other side. By raising awareness of the creativity, scientific innovation, and craftsmanship linked to the participants' own area, our activities generated a higher appreciation for the opportunities afforded by inner London areas, and planted the seed for future creative outputs. Another medium- to long-term impact is the introduction of both heritage science and conservation science to the list of possible career paths for school leavers. These subjects not only defy the stereotypical distinction between scientific and humanities/creative disciplines and careers, but appear to have made STEM subjects more appealing and intriguing, at least within the student groups involved in the project's activities. Another element of impact has been the increased contact with other academic researchers and the exchange of data and tips and findings to further the scholarship in the field. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
| Description | Newham Heritage Month 2022 |
| Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | London Borough Of Newham |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2022 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Description | London Borough of Newham |
| Organisation | London Borough Of Newham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Using the V&A's expertise in heritage science, ceramics history and making practices we have collaborated with London Borough of Newham to discover and reanimate their collection of Bow Porcelain. This has also resulted on further musicological advice on storage and display protocols which colleagues at LBoN did not have. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LBoN have shared their extensive experience of engaging their local communities in heritage projects through Newham Heritage Month and their library and collections staff have shared existing research, contact and ideas on Bow Porcelain. |
| Impact | - New scientific data into LBoN collection Schools workshops at V&A with LBoN collection - Public workshops at Stratford Library with LBoN collection - Public exhibition at Stratford Library with LBoN collection |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | An experiential way to learn about London's porcelain history By Alice Conibere and Cate McCowin (History of Design MA Students, V&A/RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An experiential way to learn about London's porcelain history By Alice Conibere and Cate McCowin (History of Design MA Students, V&A/RCA) on V&A blog |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/projects/an-experiential-way-to-learn-about-londons-porcelain-history |
| Description | Exploring Bow Porcelain, A Panel Discussion with local artists and a handling session led by Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth, 15 June |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Exploring Bow Porcelain, A Panel Discussion with local artists and a handling session led by Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth at Stratford Library. c.40 people attended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.newhamheritagemonth.org/events/exploring-bow-porcelain/ |
| Description | Full day workshop at V&A, Cardinal Vaughan School, 23 May 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | At a visit to the V&A, the students visited the V&A lab, using an XRF spectroscopy machine and digital microscope. They also spent time handling objects from the London Borough of Newham's collection, learning about their history. They then spent the afternoon testing historic porcelain recipes created by Haseldine based on the scientific analysis conducted by Burgio and Domoney into Chelsea and Bow porcelain. They used plaster casting techniques to re-make Bow Porcelain Factory sculptures. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Full day workshop at V&A, Chobham Academy, 4 May 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | At a visit to the V&A, the students visited the V&A lab, using an XRF spectroscopy machine and digital microscope. They also spent time handling objects from the London Borough of Newham's collection, learning about their history. They then spent the afternoon testing historic porcelain recipes created by Haseldine based on the scientific analysis conducted by Burgio and Domoney into Chelsea and Bow porcelain. They used plaster casting techniques to re-make Bow Porcelain Factory sculptures. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Looking at early English porcelain V&A blog by Lucia Burgio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Looking at early English porcelain by Lucia Burgio on V&A Blog |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/museum-life/looking-at-early-english-porcelain |
| Description | MAKING HISTORIC PORCELAIN: HANDS-ON CLAY WORKSHOP at Cody Dock, re-making 1740s Bow porcelain recipes led by Dr Georgia Haseldine, 19 June |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | MAKING HISTORIC PORCELAIN: HANDS-ON CLAY WORKSHOP at Cody Dock, re-making 1740s Bow porcelain recipes led by Dr Georgia Haseldine, 19 June. 45 attendees over 3 workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.newhamheritagemonth.org/events/making-historic-porcelain-hands-on-clay-workshop/ |
| Description | Making East London Porcelain Exhibition, a private visit by local students from Chobham Academy who helped to co-curate the exhibition, 15 June |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Making East London Porcelain Exhibition, a private visit by local students from Chobham Academy who helped to co-curate the exhibition, 15 June |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Making East London Porcelain Photo Essay on V&A blog by Georgia Haseldine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Making East London Porcelain Photo Essay on V&A blog by Georgia Haseldine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/projects/making-east-london-porcelain-photo-essay#:~:text=Making%20East%2... |
| Description | Making East London Porcelain project page on Newham Heritage Month website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Making East London Porcelain project page on Newham Heritage Month website |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.newhamheritagemonth.org/contributors/va-museum/ |
| Description | Research project web page on VARI site on V&A website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Research web page |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.vam.ac.uk/research/projects/making-london-porcelain |
| Description | Schools visit, Cardinal Vaughan, 15 June |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Curating and glaze making workshop with students. By the end of the session students had designed their exhibition, drafted some interpretation and glazed their porcelain test tiles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Schools visit, Chobham Academy, 20 May |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Curating and glaze making workshop with students. By the end of the session students had designed their exhibition, drafted some interpretation and glazed their porcelain test tiles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Study Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | It was a study day organised by the English Ceramics Circle (https://www.englishceramiccircle.org.uk/). Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth, part of the 'Making London Porcelain' project, gave a lecture which drew from the project. Discussions ensued, and attention was given to the results of the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Subject Specialist Discussion Group on Chelsea Laughing Child Busts and London Porcelain Sculpture, 11 May 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This subject specialist discussion group invited scholars, dealers, students and museum professionals together to share and interrogate the scientific, material and historical findings of the research project. Participants were also able to handle objects. This was a very useful session to broaden as well as to broadcast our knowledge. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | V&A Lunchtime Lecture: Making London Porcelain, 17 November 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Join Dr Lucia Burgio, Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth, Dr Georgia Haseldine and Dr Kelly Domoney to investigate London's first porcelain manufacturers, Bow Porcelain Factory and Chelsea Porcelain Factory. Together with the Ashmolean Museum and London Borough of Newham, the V&A has conducted scientific analysis into these fascinating mid-eighteenth century objects and has collaborated with communities from Newham and Kensington to remake and reinterpret them. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.vam.ac.uk/event/ABpqjEqGoBQ/p22037-lunchtime-lecture-east-london-porcelain |
| Description | When science meets art: Making London porcelain by Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth on V&A blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | When science meets art: Making London porcelain by Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth on V&A blog |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/projects/when-science-meets-art-making-london-porcelain |