John Beswick Studios

Among my favorite things to collect are the Beswick studios figurines of the Beatrix Potter Figurines, as well as those of the hunting dogs and the owls. These are remarkably lifelike and have been made over the course of more than a century, realistic and beautiful, they are still sought after collectibles today.

A family owned and operated business, from 1894 to 2002, Beswick Studio was founded by James Wright Beswick, along with his sons John,Gilbert and John’s son, John Ewart, each of them played a role in the amazing success of this factory.
Until about 1918, the business was run from a works on Gold Street, that was entitled J.W. Beswick, when the company expanded its activities, maing pottery and fancy works for both their local as well as the international market place.

In 1921, JW Beswick died and in 1936, his son, at which time the company was made John Beswick Ltd, with John’s son, John Ewart Beswick the managing director and the remaining origina son, Gilbert Beswick the director of sales, and many new pieces were introduced to their existing range.

1940 saw the necessity for extensive changes for the growth of the company and some major modernisations to the factory itseld, so that by 1945, they had added an adjoining factory and converted their Gold Street facility to offices potting and firing , while the new factory gave them decorating, finishing and dispatch.

At this point Arthur Gredington was installed as the modeller for animals of all kinds and today remains quite well known for the amazing accuracy of his work and the realism of the animals that he created.

Albert Halam too contributed amazing things to the decorations, adding about three thousand pieces.
Beswick was well known and very popular with collectors in both England as well as abroad, and gained some serious recognition for their figurines of dogs, birds and wild and domestic animals as well as the beautiful Toby Jugs.

In 1989, Beswick wares were produced under the Royal Doulton backstamp, which company had purchased them some years in the past.
In 2002, Royal Doulton stopped the manufacture of al Beswick wares, and the end of an amazing era in figurines came to pass.
Beswick wares are still highly sought after collectibles, and have taken their place firmly esconces in the history of pottery.

Here are a few examples of why Beswick studios are so well thought of among collectors today:

Be Sociable, Share!

•