An ornamental candelabra вЂ“ from Drawing Book No. It is likely that the companyвЂ™s potters and decorators used the illustrations for guidance when they were creating product lines in the factory. The books acted as a record of the companyвЂ™s products, giving a history of different designs and amendments to these designs. Some illustrations are hand drawn in pen and ink others are hand painted with watercolours. In other cases the illustrations depict the decorative patterns that adorned the pottery. In some cases the illustrations depict the designs for the physical shape of the products.

The Design, Drawing & Pattern Books are a set of volumes containing illustrations of Leeds Pottery products. Business suffered in the later 1800s due to increased competition and the company closed in 1881.

Established c.1770 in Hunslet, the Leeds Pottery established healthy sales in both British and overseas markets. The company achieved widespread fame for its creamware a glazed earthenware with a rich cream colour. The Leeds Pottery were one of YorkshireвЂ™s most respected ceramics firms. Produced by the company for production and sales purposes, these volumes are a key source for ceramics enthusiasts and anyone interested in Leeds history. These include the Design, Drawing & Pattern Books and another set of volumes entitled вЂ Designs of Sundry Articles of Queens or Cream-Colou-rвЂ™d Earthen-WareвЂ¦вЂ™. Leeds Central Library houses several rare volumes relating to the Leeds Pottery Company.

Leeds creamware