Pate Sur Pate ::: Dale Bowen ::: Louis Solon ::: Minton

Born in Staffordshire in 1963, I lived all my life here in the Potteries, where you can't really escape the influence of the main industry, ceramics. My introduction to ceramics began at High School where I chose not to pursue it, instead concentrating purely on painting, which gave me the most pleasure. It wasn't until I entered into the pottery industry that I discovered just how much I liked them, and over nearly twenty years later I find myself where I am today. I am currently employed by Wedgwood, where I have been for over eleven years, this has led me to the Jasper Prestige Department where everything made is either unique or a special Limited Edition...also expensive!

Over the years I have visited various Ceramic Collections in museums and more recently in private collections, this has led to me having an all consuming desire to learn more about the various decorating methods of years gone by, and to my mind the Holy Grail of all decorating techniques is the one called Pate sur Pate.

Prior to its sale by Royal Doulton, I was fortunate to be allowed access to the Louis Solon Pate Sur Pate collection housed in the Minton archive at Nile street, Burslem. It was there I was introduced to the then curator Joan Jones, whose knowledge on the subject of Pate Sur Pate proved invaluable.

I now make a small Pate Sur Pate collection for Wedgwood using the Solon method (this is to say without the use of moulds) so that every piece is a unique item, which at the moment is sold exclusively in Japan. Commissioned pieces have recently included a huge 3ft vase for the Royal Naval museum at Portsmouth to commemorate the Trafalgar 200 Celebrations, and a commemorative plaque presented to Her Majesty The Queen at the same celebrations.
Some of my other Pate Sur Pate pieces have found their way into private collections, such as the Reichner Collection in Chicago, The Stoke-on-Trent City Museum, and I also have a growing Pate Sur Pate collection in the Wedgwood Museum, which hopefully will still be around long after I am gone, I think its called posterity?

My goal is to have my name linked as closely to Pate Sur Pate, as that of Louis Solon. Admittedly we still have some way to go, however practice makes perfect.

I have recently completed my Masters Degree In Ceramics, which was most interesting, this has in turn led me to produce pottery at home as well, so I go to Wedgwood, make pots, and then come home and do exactly the same how sad is that? Seriously though, I do enjoy making pottery, you could use the expression 'it's in the blood'.