BACK TO ARCHIVE   CELEBRATION IN STYLE DOLLS HOUSE WORLD ISSUE 25, JUNE 1993 Reproduced with the kind permission of the publisher.   Page 1 Stokesay Ware's Sovereign Blue and Willow pattern, displayed on a dresser back by Karen   It is ten years since Karen Griffiths and Peter Armstrong set up Stokesay Ware, and they have every reason to celebrate. Their miniature china is second to none, and they have built up a worthy reputation over the years. Karen has a string of impressive sounding letters after her name, and she has earned these the hard way. She graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1981 with a Masters degree in ceramics, and set up a workshop in Rotherhithe, but as soon as she set eyes on The Doll's House Shop in Covent Garden, she was enchanted, and wanted to have a go at smaller pieces. She had already made a couple of items for children in the family, but her first experiment to adults was a casserole. 'It took me two weeks to get it out in one piece,' Karen told us. 'I was thrilled when Michal Morse ordered half a dozen more for the shop, but I knew I had to do something about adapting my technique. I originally trained as a graphic designer, so I was in my element, combining precision work with ceramics.' Various items of the popular kitchenware from the Stokesay range. The table is by Jane Newman Her next customer was London shop owner Kristin Baybars, who was equally encouraging and enthusiastic, and Joan Ince of Ince to the Foot, was another early contact who helped Karen out along the way. Her first fair at Dorking in 1983 was a terrific success, and Karen was pleasantly surprised to find how kind people were in the miniatures business. She will never forget, she says, how Terry Curran and Muriel Hopwood, who might have considered themselves competitors, made a point of wishing her well. Somewhere along the line she managed to get together with Peter, and it wasn't long before the couple were concentrating full time on the business together. In fact Stokesay Ware has strong family roots. Karen's parents were married in the Norman church attached to Stokesay Castle, where her grandparents are buried, and she was christened. And to celebrate their tenth anniversary in style, Peter and Karen are producing something special - a dessert service in the finest bone china, decorated with gold lustre. This unique offer is a limited edition and available exclusively through DHW. You can find out how to order yours this issue.   Meet Stokesay Ware - Peter and Karen celebrate 10 years together     1 :: 2 :: 3         HOME :: FINE CHINA :: GALLERY PRICE LIST :: ORDER :: EVENTS :: PROJECTS LINKS :: ARCHIVE         STOKESAY WARE 37 Sandbrook Road, Stoke Newington London N16 0SH, UK Telephone 020 7254 5242 International +44 20 7254 5242 email peter@stokesayware.com         Content, design & graphics copyright © Karen Griffiths 2000