A Lesson in Perfection – Chamberlain & Co.’s Birlingham Box
Looking at a piece as exquisite as Chamberlain & Co’s Birlingham Box it can be difficult to conceive how it was made. The shapely silhouette, the perfectly fitted lid, the ornate detailing, even the flawless paintwork are all so impeccably integrated that one might easily imagine that it had just been formed whole.
That, however, would be underselling the expertise, dedication and love that go into each and every one of Chamberlain & Co.’s hand made ceramics. Created using a balanced combination of time-honoured heritage craft techniques, in depth knowledge of the science of ceramics and the latest technology, the Birlingham Box is part of the splendid new collection from ceramic specialists Chamberlain & Co. Inspired by the porcelain that graced the court of King George III, the range is ornate, opulent and elegant, combining Regency splendor with the modern aesthetic to create a glorious hybrid of ceramic art. Fit for a king! Fashioned from eight separate pieces of clay and supported by numerous others throughout the shaping and firing processes, more than 50 man hours go into ensuring that every Birlingham Box is as perfect as it is beautiful. The finished profile may look effortlessly graceful, but it takes consummate skill to prevent the clay from following its innate tendencies and “bellying” out; clay yearns to be rounded rather than flat. In this design Chamberlain & Co’s artisans are defying nature. It’s not surprising then, that so few ceramic boxes are available in such prodigious dimensions. The Birlingham Box measures approximately 34cm x 23cm x 20cm – probably the largest ornamental cast ceramic box in made in the
UK.
Perfection is a demanding taskmaster. Once the technical crafting and firing has been completed, Chamberlain & Co’s artists spend a further 34 hours hand painting and gilding the glazed ceramic. 23 karat gold is applied and burnished, tracing the glittering highlights of each design, adding a further layer of finery.
It’s true that grace and charm ooze from every Chamberlain & Co. Birlingham Box, but effortless? It takes a vast amount of expertise to make it look that way.
Chamberlain & Co Birlingham Box by numbers
50 The number of hours it takes to create Chamberlain & Co’s Birlingham Box
26 The number of hours it takes to hand paint each individual Birlingham Box
23 The number of Karats in the gold used to finish each design
8 The number of times each Birlingham Box is fired
∞ The number of years your Chamberlain & Co Birlingham Box will be treasured
www.chamberlainco.co.uk
For more information contact
Pam Ballone, PBM Marketing and Public Relations
Tel 01905 429343 Email pam@ballone.co.uk
