150 Years of Belleek

The village of Belleek, the most westerly village in Northern Ireland, lies quietly along the banks of the Lough Erne. Visitors are lured by the town’s picturesque beauty, thriving shopping district, and abundance of outdoor activities. The gentle rolling emerald landscape is made for walking and the waters are filled with trout and salmon that entice anglers of all ages. Still, what draws most people to the village is Belleek Pottery, the home of the world’s finest parian china for the last 150 years, and one of Ireland’s greatest treasures.
Accounts differ greatly has to how the pottery began. One legend states that in 1849, John Caldwell Bloomfield, who had just inherited Castle Caldwell and the surrounding village of Belleek, was attempting to whitewash a cottage “using the flaky white powder he dug up from his backyard” (Antique). The pearl-like luster of the finished product inspired a geological survey… and in the soil were found all the necessary ingredients to create a china unlike the world had ever known.
Another legend hints towards a far more grim beginning. Bloomfield inherited Caldwell, “at a time when the surrounding population was still reeling from the devastation of the Potato Famine.” During the course of the next six years, potato plants withered and died, resulting in the starvation deaths of “over a million men, women and children.” As the new owner of Belleek and Castle Caldwell, Bloomfield may have been inspired by the words of Daniel O’Connor to the British House of Commons in 1847 when O’Connor urged “Ireland is in your hands, in your power. If you do not save her, she cannot save herself. I solemnly call upon you to recollect that I predict with the sincerest conviction that a quarter of her population will perish unless you come to her relief” (History Place). Bloomfield, knowing he had to provide some type of economic haven for his people, commissioned a geological survey to see if the land could support a working pottery (Funding).
The actual truth may reside in the mists of time, but what is certain is that a survey was done and the soil surrounding Belleek village was found to be abundantly rich in minerals. Bloomfield was thrilled with the results and immediately formed a partnership with London architect Robert Williams Armstrong and Dublin merchant David McBirney. Together the three men were able to get a railway line built to Belleek to supply the necessary coal for the kilns. Production focused mostly on domestic items, like “pestles, mortars, washstands, hospital pans, floor tiles, telegraph insulators and tableware” (Belleek) The quality and craftsmanship of these items was superb because Armstrong insisted on hiring the best potters available. He single-handedly recruited 14 craftsmen from Stoke-on-Trent, the epicenter of England’s pottery production (Belleek).
Over the next few years, the quality of the clay continued to improve, and by 1863, the pottery finally produced its now famous parian china. In order to ensure that Belleek would remain synonymous with high quality, the company established “standards for its porcelain–and each piece became subject to Armstrong’s approval. Rejected pieces were then destroyed—a policy the company continued over the next 150 years. Indeed, even in the early 21st century, Belleek continued to throw away some 20 percent of its production”
In 1872, Belleek displayed a variety of goods, including tableware, statues and a Chinese tea urn, at the Dublin Exposition and won two gold medals. Interestingly, Belleek received the ultimate nod of approval when Queen Victoria ordered a tea service for herself and as royal gifts for those she favored. Not surprisingly, the British nobility quickly followed suit and Belleek started appearing in homes as far away as India.
So, what is it about Belleek that collectors find so appealing? Well, first you need to understand parian china, a white biscuit porcelain whose name is derived “from its close similarity to the white marble mined on the island of Paros in the Aegean Sea.” Instead of being molded into shape by hand (think of a potter’s wheel), parian china is actually a liquid dough that is poured into a mold and then allowed to dry for several days before it is fired in the kiln. The process results in china that is thin, durable, and translucent… perfect for tea services and decorative objects such as Belleek’s famous baskets, lamps, and vases.
Today, 150 years later, Belleek continues to “produce its famous lines of seashell designs, basket weaves, and marine themes,” but it has also adapted to the demands of a new millennium by creating a line called Belleek Living, which according to the official website is a “cutting edge design with a relaxed modern style…a range of quality ‘designer’ giftware that reflects how we live today.” Still, whether you prefer the more traditional woven baskets or the newer sleek and modern dinnerware, an Irish home is just not complete without a piece of Belleek, which is probably why giving Belleek as a wedding present is such a long held tradition. And, legend has it that “if a newly married couple receives a piece of Belleek, their marriage will be blessed with lasting happiness.” Now, who can argue with that?

By Marjorie McKinstry-Miller