Kiln Craft "Bacchus" Staffordshire Potteries 1972

I had almost forgotten about "Kiln Craft" which was huge in the 1970's as utilitartian and affordable kitchenware - until last week when I found a part tea-set at Auction in this pattern - called "Bacchus". It is probably not that collectable, as it isn't as tough and long lasting as many wares from other English potteries of the period - but I like it becuase of the design and motif which couldnt be more seventies, and also the size and shape of the cups. Additionally the trademark "Kiln Craft" logo would have to be one of the most iconic pieces of Graphic Design from the 1970's.

Staffordshire Potteries Ltd. 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 furnisings Group of Manchester. In 1990 after a management buyout it was renamed Staffordshire Tableware, and the company failed a few years later I believe.

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