Why Collect Shelley
There are a great many reasons to collect Shelley and Wileman china, and they are summarized below, but more than anything else, the following article from one of our earlier magazines expresses it best:
Should you require additional reasons, here they are:
- Shelley's is the best of the English potteries that produced bone china.
"Shelley China is the finest expression of the Potter's Art. Its pure white translucent glaze, and lovely colourings make it pre-eminent amongst the productions of the World's greatest Pottery centre, The Staffordshire Potteries."
-- Percy Norman Shelley
- Its products are all beautiful works of art, yet they are meant to be used and enjoyed.
- Shelley's had the best and most thorough quality control so that the china patterns matched and pieces would be extraordinarily durable.
- The original pattern books, which tied pattern numbers to the artwork from which all Shelley and Wileman pieces were decorated, still exist and may be available to facilitate research.
- There are three large worldwide Shelley clubs with experts and helpful people to assist with identification and location of almost any pattern or piece.
- There are many sources of information including books, magazines and newsletters to further your research and understanding. See our Resource section for more.
- Shelley is no longer being produced; the supply is fixed and even dwindling as pieces are lost or broken.
