Miles Mason (England) ceramics

Miles Mason (1752-1822) was a British potter who is credited with the invention of ironstone china. He was born in Dent, Yorkshire, and began his career as a clerk in his uncle's stationery business in London. In 1775, he married Ruth Farrar, the daughter of a wealthy china merchant. Mason subsequently joined his father-in-law's business, and in 1792 he established his own pottery in Liverpool.

Mason's timing was impeccable. The Napoleonic Wars had made it difficult and expensive to import porcelain from China, and there was a growing demand for a durable and affordable alternative. Mason's ironstone china was just the thing. It was made from a mixture of iron-rich clay and bone ash, and it was both strong and translucent.

Mason's ironstone china quickly became popular, and he expanded his production to include a wide range of tableware, including plates, more... cups, saucers, and teapots. He also developed a number of innovative decorating techniques, such as the "ring" process, which allowed for the application of multiple colours to a single piece of pottery.

Mason's pottery was exported all over the world, and it was used by royalty and aristocracy alike. His ironstone china is still highly prized today, and it is considered to be among the finest English pottery ever produced.

In addition to his business success, Mason was also a philanthropist. He donated money to build a school and a church in his hometown of Dent, and he also supported a number of other charities.

Mason died in 1822, but his business continued to thrive under the management of his three sons William; George Miles and Charles James. In 1811 William Mason set up manufacturing on his own account. Miles Mason retired in 1813 and the business was continued by his sons George & Charles.

 The Mason pottery remained in operation until 1962, and it produced some of the most iconic and collectible English pottery of the 19th and 20th centuries. less...