The Cambrian Company: Swansea Pottery in London 1806-1808

In 1808, James Christie II was employed to sell the remaining stock of the Cambrian Company, the London Warehouse of the Swansea Pottery located at 64 Fleet Street. The auction sales, between February and April 1808, comprised around 14,000 pieces in over 1,000 lots, similar in scale to the Wedgwood & Bentley disposals in 1781. Much of the finest pottery made in Swansea was included in these 1808 sales - pieces decorated with Nelson, the Welsh Bard, Birds and Butterflies etc. However, letters in Philadelphia prove that the Warehouse, established just eighteen months before in the middle of 1806, was opened to showcase Lewis Weston Dillwyn's lustre. Despite the clear artistic success, the auction sales point to a commercial failure. Notwithstanding Nelson's victory at Trafalgar in 1805, the global economy remained depressed, with trade disrupted given the actions of the British, French and Americans, culminating in Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807.

Continuing the tradition for works on Welsh ceramics, this book is available in two bindings. The general edition is hard backed and limited to 750 copies.

In addition, there is a deluxe edition fully bound in leather with a slip case. This is limited to 64 numbered and signed copies.

Both editions are slightly smaller in height than standard A4 and over 375 pages in length. The book is profusely illustrated - there are over 250 separate illustrations, generally in full colour.

If any member wants a copy they can email Jonathan Gray at jdgray@talk21.com