Thomas Forester Planter, ca. 1920

English planter with pedestal. THOMAS FORESTER, ca.1920.
Phoenix-Ware glazed ceramic.
With stamps on the base.
Measurements: 96 x 40 x 40 cm.

Arts and Crafts planter of the English manufacture of Thomas Forester & Sons Phoenix Ware, in glazed ceramic with the representation of a peacock, whose splendid plumage with ocelli is prolonged in the pedestal.

Thomas Forester was born in 1832. His father was a warehouseman at the Minton Porcelain Works and Thomas was apprenticed there as an ironworker. In 1856, Thomas was employed as a manager at Victoria Works, Shelton, for Lockett, Baguley & Cooper. After a few years he joined Mrs. Wardle ( Wardle & Co ) as a majolica maker. He was invited to take over the works of Messrs. Peterinck & Son at Tournai in Belgium.Thomas Forester returned to England and in 1877 started his business on a small building site in High Street, Longton and soon took additional premises in Church Street: Church Street Mayolica Works. He demolished Church Street Works and built Phoenix Works , which he completed in 1879. In early 1883, he entered into partnership with his sons Herbert and Victor and the company title became '& Sons'. Incorporated as a Limited Partnership in 1891. In 1893, the firm was recorded as employing 520 people at 'Imperial and Phoenix Works' and by 1900 employed over 700 people.