Flow Blue

Flow Blue, a type of china was first created in Staffordshire England around 1825; its patterns were inspired from Chinese porcelain.

English potters have, since the 1700, tried to emulate Chinese porcelain, which showed many attributes of what is today known as ’Flow Blue’. Chinese porcelain was high-priced and considered a luxury item. This led English potters to create a kind of ’salt-gaze’ earthenware, which looked like porcelain due to its white hue. Cobalt blue used in the colouring process could withstand the high temperatures of the oven. The flowing colour was a product of the reaction of volatile chlorides upon ceramic colours. The colours applied to the exterior were subjected to the chlorinated atmosphere in the oven and the vapours from it caused the colour to spread and blur. This method was pioneered by Josiah Wood in the early 1800’s while Josiah Wedgwood is credited as being the creator of Flow Blue pottery. Another method of replicating Chinese pottery was by the use of transfer printing invented around 1775. This method used a copper plate that was engraved with the design and heated, and transferred onto the pottery. Flow blue china was decorated with oriental designs and Chinoiserie. In the 1800’s European designs were added to the Asian elements. Post 1850, the designs were more decorative and the scenes were more fanciful.

The striking designs and affordability of flow blue is what ensures it remains popular as a substitute for Chinese Porcelain even today.