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Bottle oven repair, Potteries
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Bottle oven repair, Potteries
A pipe-smoking workman at work high on scaffolding on a bottle oven at the Glastone Pottery, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. First published The Times Date: 1989
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 19534367
© Philip Dunn / Mary Evans Picture Library
1989 Bottle Bricks Builder Eighties Gladstone Oven Potteries Pottery Staffordshire Stoke Trent
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative black-and-white photograph, a pipe-smoking workman is seen high above the ground, meticulously repairing a bottle oven at the historic Glastonbury Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. The year is 1989, and the 80s are coming to a close, but the traditional methods of pottery production remain unchanged in this time-honored craft. The workman, dressed in a heavy coat and work boots, is perched on a narrow scaffold that encircles the towering bottle oven. Bricks are carefully arranged around him, forming a makeshift platform that provides just enough space for him to work. The oven, a massive, cylindrical structure made of red bricks, looms ominously in the background, its dark, cavernous interior a testament to the intense heat and labor that goes into creating the finest pottery. The workman's face is obscured by a thick cloud of smoke from his pipe, adding an air of mystery and intrigue to the scene. His focused expression and deft movements suggest that he is a master of his craft, a skilled artisan who has spent years perfecting the art of bottle oven repair. The Potteries, as Stoke-on-Trent is affectionately known, has been a center of ceramics production since the 17th century. The area's unique clay deposits and abundant water supply made it an ideal location for pottery production, and the industry flourished for centuries. However, by the late 20th century, the industry was in decline, and many traditional methods of production were being replaced by more modern, industrial methods. This photograph captures a moment in time, a fleeting glimpse into the past, when the art of bottle oven repair was still a vital part of the pottery-making process. It is a reminder of the rich history and tradition of the Potteries, and the dedication and skill of the men and women who kept this ancient craft alive.
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