Blue Calico Pricelist

Calico`s famous deep cobalt blue pattern was derived from early Victorian patterns which had their roots in Chinese porcelain, representing the Spring with fallen prunus blossom on cracked ice. Blue Calico is made from Ironstone. English stone china and the ironstone type were produced to emulate the saleable Chinese export market porcelains.

The term "stone" or "stone china" underlined the durability of the wares. Stoneware is a hard, dense, non porus, opaque pottery fired at a temperature that is higher than that for earthenware but lower than that of porcelain.
Ironstone is made up of various kinds of hard iron ores containing silica and clay.
The method of application is known as Transfer printing on Pottery. The CALICO design is engraved by hand on a copper cylinder, colour is applied to it and continuously transfered to long strips of the tissue paper which are then cut by hand into sizes suitable for the various items.

Here we have a beautiful etruscan jug.

This application is a skilled process and continues to be done by hand. The piece, covered with the tissue paper design, is next hand rubbed with a hard brush which transfers the pattern to the pottery. Finally the paper is washed off the ware which is then fired to ensure the design is permanent and ready for additional glazing and finishing..

This method which has been in use for two centuries. It is not only unique and lovely, but dishwasher safe, suitable for use in the microwave and other types of oven and meets all the current standards of lead and other metal release.

This method which has been in use for two centuries. It is not only unique and lovely, but dishwasher safe, suitable for use in the microwave and other types of oven and meets all the current standards of lead and other metal release.

TRANSFER PRINTING
The pattern is engraved on a copper roller. The picture shows our 80 year old Roller Printing Press in action. The roller is heated and Cobalt oxide mixed with a printing medium is applied. In this shot you can see Asiatic Pheasant pattern being printed. Keeping a consistent print is a highly skilled job.

TEARING OFF TISSUE PRINTS

Paul can be seen tearing off manageable sections of the print, and hanging them on the line.

The roller prints a continuous repeat of the pattern. There are various borders and sprays tailored to fit different pieces of ware.

CUTTING OUT THE TRANSFER PRINTS

The various motifs and borders are cut out from the tissue print