Aims of the Scottish Pottery Society

The Scottish Pottery Society (SPS) was formed in 1972 to encourage research into the history and products of the Scottish pottery industry. The industry lasted for about two hundred years from 1748. Glasgow was by far the biggest centre but Kirkcaldy and Bo'ness were also important and there were major potteries in Greenock and Alloa. East Lothian had an early start as a major centre but all except some stoneware potteries disappeared at a fairly early date.

Salt Bucket Attributed to the Barrowfield Pottery, Glasgow C 1870s	Transfer pattern "Oriental" Armitage/ Osley Pottery, Glasgow C. 1860s	Transfer pattern "Ivanhoe" Annfield Pottery (John, Thomson) C. 1870s

About the Society

The Society is organised as separate branches with an overall central Council. At present there are three branches which meet in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling. Each branch has monthly meetings from September to May. These take the form of lectures, discussions and displays of pottery. The Council generally organises the actions of the Society and supervises publications. Members join one particular branch but are free to attend meetings (apart from AGMs) at all three.

From time to time the Society organises or otherwise helps with exhibitions of pottery. Venues include Perth, Kirkcaldy, Edinburgh, Stirling, Bo'ness, Milngavie, Kirkintilloch, Rutherglen, Helensburgh, Cumnock and Glasgow.

McNey, Bo'ness Pottery Dogs, C 1880s	Transfer pattern "Sporting Subjects" Glasgow Pottery (J.&M.P.Bell & Co.) C 1840s	"Hawkie" a beggar in Glasgow Caledonian Pottery C. 1830s

To Join

To join the SPS you choose one of the three branches (Glasgow or Central or Edinburgh) and fill in the relevant aplication form found on the Branches page and post it to the relevant secretary. Or attend a meeting and join there.
Cheques made payable to 'Scottish Pottery Society, .............branch'.

When you join you receive the current SPHR and a twelve page Bulletin. The Bulletin is only available to members and is issued two or three times a year. You should also receive a Branch news letter every month during the programme season.

Members can purchase back numbers of SPHR nos. 14 to 23 at a discount and only members can buy SPHRs before no. 14, if available.

Click on thumbnails to get larger picture

Links Pottery (Kirkcaldy), (Methvens), George IV, Commemorating his visit to Edinburgh in 1826	Govan Pottery, Glasgow, thought to be Charles Purvis,	Nautilus Porcelain, Possil Pottery Glasgow, "Old Mortality" C. 1910