1970s Hornsea "Contrast" Platter, Bowls, Plates Made in England by Lancaster Vitramic, 9 Pieces

Details

Description

Offered is a set of 9 pieces of Hornsea Contrast pattern plates, the first to be produced at their Lancaster … Read more Offered is a set of 9 pieces of Hornsea Contrast pattern plates, the first to be produced at their Lancaster Vitramic facility in southern England. The Hornsea Pottery Contrast pattern was an international best-selling oven-to-tableware range introduced in 1974 to celebrate the company's silver jubilee. Characterized by raw, polished brown exteriors contrasted with crisp white glazed interiors and striking black-and-white banded stripes. Pieces were fired at ultra-high temperatures to vitrify the clay, then tumbled and vibrated in containers with ceramic pellets to achieve a pebble-like, smooth tactile finish. The range was the very first production line out of Hornsea's second manufacturing site in Lancaster, which opened in 1974 as a "Pottery in a Garden" to meet massive global demand. Created by designer Martin Hunt in collaboration with Lord David Queensberry. Colin Rawson created the unique chocolate brown Vitramic body, produced when the clay is vitrified in a high-temperature firing followed by intense polishing.

Platter measures 13.5" long, 10.5" wide, 1.25" deep
Salad Plates measure 7.875" diameter, 1" deep
Bowls measure 6.625" diameter, 1.5" deep

The pioneering manufacturing techniques and minimalist 1970s style earned Contrast a permanent place in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Contrast won a prestigious Design Council Award in 1975, paving the way for variations like Concept, Ebony, Impact, Palatine, and Cinnamon. See less