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 Lorna
Bailey was born on 10th February 1978, the daughter of Lionel and
Jennifer Bailey and sister of Warren. She was brought up in Dimsdale
View East, Porthill, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. She has
lived throughout her life in and around the Wolstanton area of Newcastle-under-Lyme
and it is this area from which the majority of the names for her
designs are taken.
Pictured right is Millennia 'The Millennium
Vase' a Limited Edition of 150 (click on image for detail).
She attended Oaklands Nursery in Porthill, Ellison Primary School
in Wolstanton and Wolstanton High School. From there she attended
Stoke-on-Trent College leaving with a B.Tec National Diploma in
Design (Ceramics). Stoke-on-Trent College is the successor to the
Burslem School Of Art where Lorna`s illustrious predecessors in
design, namely Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper, Charlotte Rhead and
Fredrick Rhead and Mabel Leigh amongst others all studied Indeed
due to her bold, striking designs Lorna is often referred to as
the next Clarice Cliff !
 Whilst
flattered by this title Lorna prefers to be judged upon her own
merits and is certainly not interested in replicating the works
of anyone. As all young designers, Lorna left college influenced
by great designers of the past but has now certainly developed her
own distinct style.
Pictured left is 'The Oaklands Pattern' depicting
a stylised oak tree and is named after a place in the locality of
Porthill (click on image for detail).
The history of the present business of L.J.B Ceramics has its roots
in the friendship of Lorna`s father with solicitor Geoff Stanway.
Both Lionel and Geoff have known each other for over 15 years. Both
had an interest in antiques, and living in the Potteries, this inevitably
meant an interest in collectable ceramics. Both Lionel and Geoff
regularly attended at the major antiques fairs around the midlands
and Lorna always travelled with them. As a child, Lorna would often
be given (mostly damaged!) collectables, and after initially collecting
Wade Whimsies, Lorna moved to collecting Art Deco ceramics, notably
pieces by Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper. This collecting gave Lorna
a hands on feel for these works and led to Lorna`s love of bold
colours and unusual shape design.
 The
business of L.J.B. came about whilst Lorna was a student at Stoke-on-Trent
College. A major Local Pottery, Wood & Sons, had gone into liquidation.
Its assets were being sold and at the same time the owner of the
Old Ellgreave Pottery (where Charlotte Rhead had worked whilst at
Wood & Son) was seeking to retire. Accordingly Lionel purchased
a large amount of the Wood & Son Assets took over the Old Ellgreave
Pottery and set up initially producing traditional hand painted
wares e.g. Toby Jugs & decorated ware. Lorna spent all her spare
time, when not at college, working in the business earning pocket
money by painting for the business and experimenting with her own
works. Over a period of time trade buyers visiting the premises
gradually purchased items of Lorna's work in addition to more traditional
wares. Slowly sales of Lorna's work increased so that by early 1998
Lorna and two of the hand painting staff were producing work exclusively
designed by Lorna.
Pictured right is 'Fire', a sugar sifter and
the 5th Lorna Bailey Collectors Club piece (click on image for detail).
 Lorne
Spicer of Collect It! magazine attended the 1998 Ceramic Showcase.
Lorne had already seen items of Lorna's work at Collectors Fairs
around the country but at this show she met Lorna who was exhibiting
her designs. From that meeting a commission for Collect It! Was
discussed. The ultimate outcome was an order for 250 "Astro"
Sugar Sifters which were to be sold in the July 1998 edition of
Collect It! Magazine. The magazine also featured an on Lorna and
her designs. The response was truly amazing! The commission sold
out within hours of the magazines release and accordingly a further
commission of 250 Vases was agreed for the next issue. This edition
sold out before the magazine officially reached the newsagents!
The demand for information on Lorna became so great that a Collectors
Club was formed which has grown to over 1000 members world-wide.
Pictured left is 'Sooter the Cat' a restricted
production piece introduced in September 01 for one month (click
on image for detail).
As a result of her success in 1999 Lorna was honoured as Midlands
Businesswoman of the year for 1998.
Lorna's prolific designs continue and recently introduced is a range
of eye-catching furniture and plans are a foot for the transfer
of some designs onto textiles. |
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