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Market Established in 1857, Belleek Pottery is ’s top selling china giftware brand. Situated on the banks of the River Erne, right in the heart of the picturesque Fermanagh Lakelands, this historic pottery has built a worldwide reputation for artistry and handcraftsmanship. Prized for the delicacy and translucency of its fine parian china ware, Belleek Pottery with its distinctive harp, Irish Wolfhound and round tower trade mark is cherished by collectors the world over. Achievements Modern day Belleek Pottery is a substantial and dynamic operation. Employing over 250 people the pottery supplies retail and mail order giftware markets throughout the world. Key export markets include the USA, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, the Far East and . In the UK and Ireland, Belleek supplies its trade customers directly while in its export markets, stockists are serviced by a handpicked network of distributors. In 1990, Dr George Moore and his wife Angela acquired the company. Originally from Dundalk and Newry respectively, the couple now live in Washington but maintain a close interest in the development of the company. Under the Chairmanship of George Moore, Angela Moore’s Presidency of the Belleek International Collectors’ Society and the drive and enthusiasm of the Belleek Group; Managing Director John Maguire; Financial Director Martin Sharkey; Operations Director Arthur Goan and Sales Director Hugh Quinn, Belleek Pottery is thriving. The expansion of the Belleek Group to include Galway Irish Crystal (in 1993) and Aynsley China (in 1997) brought with it a wealth of export expertise. Both acquisitions strengthened resources across each of the 3 companies as well as opening up significant new channels of distribution for Belleek. In 1999 Belleek was presented with the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in recognition of its remarkable export sales growth. History Belleek Pottery owes its origin to three men, John Caldwell Bloomfield being the first.The other two, with diverse backgrounds and interests, were Robert Williams Armstrong and David McBirney. Bloomfield was an enterprising landlord and always on the lookout for ways of helping the inhabitants of Belleek to gain employment. Finding rich deposits of fine kaolin and felspar on his land, he became obsessed with the idea of founding a factory which would provide local employment and enhance Ireland’s prestige. Bloomfield met Armstrong, an architect and civil engineer, shortly after the 1853 Dublin Exhibition.They agreed to work together to build the pottery. A financial backer was all they needed and Bloomfield felt he knew the right man — David McBirney. Rose Isle was the first site chosen.The first

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stone was laid in July 1857. By the end of the finally ready for the market places of the world. year earthenware was in production, though the The work is very intricate, exemplified by the factory was not completed until June 1860. making of Belleek basketware which is perhaps Belleek occupies a unique place in Ireland’s the signature range of the whole Belleek heritage and is subsequently collected the world collection. over, it is even in many museums.The National Belleek’s reputation has been built on product Museum of Ireland, in Dublin, has a fine excellence and only products of the very highest collection of Belleek, which it began acquiring in quality are put on sale. Back in 1857 the 1870, just 13 years after building started on the pottery’s founder, John Caldwell Bloomfield, pottery. declared that any piece of Belleek with even the slightest flaw should be destroyed.This golden Product rule has always been meticulously applied ever When you purchase a piece of Belleek china you since, so Belleek remains as always, a byword for become the owner of a truly original piece of perfection. Recent Developments In recent years, the product catalogue of Belleek Pottery has been much extended, with many new product lines being added.The designs reflect contemporary tastes, but the basics of Belleek production remain unchanged. The current Belleek range is impressive in its depth and range. Apart from the beautifully handcrafted bridal gifts, it also includes a variety of tableware, vases, lamps, baskets and figurines. The turning of the Century was marked by a highly successful limited edition Millennium Collection. incorporated in early Belleek, which are just as Promotion evident today. Belleek is date marked by the The global success of the Belleek various periods in its manufacture and the Pottery brand lies in the concentrated products made in the earlier years are efforts of the experienced sales and outstanding collectors’ items today. Bloomfield’s marketing team.The brand is instantly quality ethos is an invaluable inheritance for the recognisable around the world and is brand and its valued collectors. synonymous with quality and While many present day giftware purchasers craftsmanship. adore Belleek in its modern style, the earlier Now, as always, Belleek Pottery continues to Belleek pieces are avidly collected around the be extremely popular with consumers, based on world, prized for their inestimable craftsmanship. their affinity with a brand renowned for its One of the earliest collectors of Belleek was quality, history and tradition. At the same time, the famous American author, Mark Twain markets are changing and Belleek is adapting to (Huckleberry Finn).Today, the Belleek Collectors’ these new demands. Society has about 8000 members worldwide, While the quality of finished goods is being who eagerly await information on Belleek. constantly improved, the time for the despatch Angela Moore is the President of Belleek of finished products has been reduced.The total Collectors International Society. Many auction level of service to customers is continually being sites on the internet have started to sell Belleek, improved. so this most historic of Irish handcrafted brands People visiting the Belleek Pottery factory in is totally up-to-date.Visit www.belleek.ie for a Co. Fermanagh can go to the unique Visitor further look at one of the world’s most Centre, which is one of the top five tourist cherished and collected brands. attractions in , they can take the pottery tour and see for themselves how the pieces are skilfully made and decorated.The Things you didn’t know about audio-visual presentation recounts the fascinating history of Belleek, and from here moving into Belleek the pottery showroom, the entire product range Irish craftsmanship, made using materials and can be admired. Finally, to end the tour a visit to Do you know that more than half of the Belleek techniques handed down from generation to the award-winning restaurant allows you to dine collectors are men, with a great taste for fine generation. No two pieces are ever the same. on Belleek tableware. china? Every handle, flower and brush stroke is lovingly applied by hand to create the look and feel that A First Period Belleek Chinese Teapot, sold at is uniquely Belleek. auction in Minnesota for $18,000. Production techniques within the pottery A First Period Crouching Venus Figure painted have obviously been updated over the years but bronze sold at auction for $28,800. the basic tradition of careful handcrafting is maintained with as much dedication today as it A certain gentleman from Texas paid several was back in 1857. hundred dollars for a small Belleek Vase. Since Product development has been the key to the piece was dusty he decided to wash it in Belleek’s continued success. Following discussions some soapy water. The piece was left to sit for with the sales team, distributors, retailers and a while and later he discovered the trademark consumers, the Belleek design team develop stamp floating on the water! The Belleek new product drawings from which, if they are trademark stamp is fired on at 1,200 degrees approved, a three dimensional model is made. centigrade, so a genuine mark is not likely to From this model a mould is made. In turn the float off! mould is filled with creamy parian slip. After Some of the most beautiful and rare pieces of drying, the pieces are cleaned up and by this Brand Values Belleek are not in museums but in private stage the slip has become clay. After firing in the collections worldwide. There are Belleek kilns, the pieces are then glazed and finally Belleek Pottery has strong values of collectors in every part of the world, from painted.The famous Belleek trademark and the craftsmanship, inherent not only in the creation Australia and South Africa to the USA. paint are then baked in the enamel kiln. At the of the pottery products, but in their decoration. end of a long and complicated production These brand values owe their origins to the Clay for traditional Belleek baskets is still kneaded process marked by constant quality checks, the dedication of mid-19th century craftsmen in the by hand and beaten on an oak block by two distinctively translucent pieces of Belleek are pottery and the decorative strengths that they oak beaters.