The Belleek porcelain factory was founded in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland about 1849, after landowner John Caldwell Bloomfield inherited his father's estate, and undertaking a geological survey, discovered the area was rich in minerals.
Bloomfield went into partnership with a London architect and a Dublin merchant and set up a pottery business to provide work for the tenant farmers whose lives had been decimated by the Irish potato famine.
The construction of the pottery commenced in 1858, and it included a railway line to the works, so coal could be delivered for the kilns.
The company commenced producing
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domestic wares, but it wasn't until 1863 that small quantities of the translucent ivory-looking porcelain for which Belleek is famous, were produced.
Belleek was popular with Queen Victoria and was displayed at the great 19th century exhibitions, and enjoyed a large export market.
Typical Belleek items include figures, vases, dishes, eggshell-thin tea services, and baskets, often with delicate open lattice-work. Marine motifs were commonly used including Neptune, shells, seaweed, mermaids, dolphins and coral and wares.
The history of the factory's output can be identified by the type and colour of the marks. A black mark was in use from 1863 to 1946 and this was superseded by a green mark. The green mark continued in use until 1980, and this was followed by a series of colours used for only short periods: gold from 1980 to 1992; dark blue from 1993 to 1996; light blue from 1997 to 1999; black again in 2000; green from 2001 to 2006; black in 2007 and then brown from 2008 onwards.
The company has changed ownership a number of times since 1884, by which time the three original owners had died, and is currently owned by Irish born American entrepreneur, Dr George G. Moore. Belleek has rebranded from the ornamental porcelain with shamrocks for which it is famous to more commercial everyday pottery through its Belleek Living range.
When buying, condition should always be checked, as Belleek objects are easily damaged due to the delicacy of the designs.
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A table centrepiece, which may have a large central bowl or dish, and a series of smaller bowls suspended from a central stem or branches, with the smaller bowls used to display sweetmeats. Some of the grander examples were made in silver, but epergnes were also made in ceramic and glass.
Popular in Victorian times, a centrepiece was designed to stand on a dining table or sideboard, and convey the theme of the gathering such as Christmas or Easter, as well as the social status of the owner.
Often very elaborately made, they can take many forms, including epergnes, sculpture, multi basket containers for fruit or sweetmeats, and large bowls.
They have been made in a variety of materials including glass, ceramics, silver, silverplate and bronze.
Centrepiece is also the name given to the central feature of an item of jewellery such as a necklace or bracelet.
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