Kiln Craft Bacchus

“Kiln Craft” Bacchus was huge in the 1970’s as utilitarian and affordable kitchen ware –  It is probably not highly collectable, as it isn’t as tough and long-lasting as many wares from other English potteries of the period – but I like it because of the pattern design which couldn’t be more seventies, and also the forms in the series.

Additionally the “Kiln Craft” log would have to be one of the most iconic pieces of Graphic Design from the 1970s.

Kiln Craft was produced by Staffordshire Potteries Ltd., which grew out of the Keele Street Pottery Group. In the 1950s they were producers of utilitarian white cups, and dinner wares.

During the 1960s and 1970s the company concentrated on the production of mugs as well.

The Kilncraft brand name was introduced in 1972 and introduced a new range of modern shapes, colours and surface decorations, such as the Bramble and Bacchus ranges.

This range was so successful that the name and trade mark was adopted as the corporate symbol for Staffordshire Potteries Ltd.

In 1979 the company acquired Royal Winton and a new range of red stoneware ‘cook and serve’ dinner wares and cookwares was produced, specially designed for microwave ovens. However, by 1983, this range described as “rustic stoneware style”, had been abandoned in favour of more delicate, pastel colours of the eighties.

By 1985, Staffordshire Potteries were the largest manufacturers of mugs in the world, producing over 750,000 per week. In 1986 the company was taken over by Coloroll home furnishings Group of Manchester. In 1990 after a management buyout it was renamed Staffordshire Tableware, and the company failed a few years later I believe.

There was at least 1 well-known colour variation in the Bacchus design pictured below. I believe there were 3 colour variations in total – but they are very hard to find.

Image from the 1977 – City of Stoke-on-Trent Handbook