Author Leslie Hayward and Editor Paul Atterbury have put together an amazingly comprehensive book about this English pottery company. Instead of writing thousands of words which basically describe something visual the book is really a well produced photo and graphic reference guide.
One really delightful aspect of the book is the reproduction of lots of the factory design and style sheets. To see the original design motifs, measurements, colors and corrections really brings the vases, jugs, tiles, plates and all the other ceramics produced over the years alive. The factory sheets showing the work of Truda Carter certainly gave me a better appreciation of her wonderful work.
The story starts in 1873 with the origins of the Carter Company and runs up to the mid-nineties. There are color photos showing nearly every product line the company produced and importantly the company and artist marks that identify each piece, these take up six back pages. My copy of the book is the first edition with 208 pages; the latest third edition (2002) has 240 pages and I assume this updates the company and their products.
The book's production is average though far superior to the usual collectors' book, especially when compared to the very dull looking titles put by Schiffer. Oddly the text to each chapter, except the first, is set in one very long paragraph but the pages are mostly filled with images and comprehensive captions. There is an index but no bibliography.
If you have an interest in this world famous pottery company I doubt there will be a better more colorful book to reveal their artistic vision.
***SEE SOME INSIDE PAGES by clicking 'customer images' under the cover.
