BACK TO ARCHIVE   STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER   Page 2 The Sovereign Red collection.   Inevitably Karen has built up a huge library of reference books. "It is quite hard for the full size potter to make anything unique," says Karen speaking of the choice of designs already available. Luckily in miniature there are plenty of golden oldies, all of which are eagerly sought after. Some designs, such as Stokesay Ware's Asiatic Pheasants, are two hundred years old but still going strong. This design is second in popularity after the Willow Pattern. "Everyone has a full-sized Willow Pattern plate in their family. It is our best selling miniature design." Karen attributes the fact that their designs reflect real life as part of their success. Even novices to the tiny world are "always interested, and enchanted" by their beautiful china wherever it is displayed. Stokesay Ware take their name from Stokesay in Shropshire, an area with strong family connections for Karen. In fact the Stokesay dinner service (c1890) that once belonged to Lady Magnus of Stokesay Court is now in Karen's hands. "The service was found in the attic having been stored away up there during wartime, along with lots of other Empire items," Karen revealed. "When it came up for auction through Sotheby's I had to have it. It is the ideal Millennium project to reproduce in miniature!" But finding time for this special project is likely to be difficult such is the demand for their existing hand-made dinner services. Karen knows that they "mustn't grumble" about the demand for their china and after three years solid work have, at last, allowed themselves a holiday. No doubt after a bit of rest and relaxation it'll be back to that two hundred year old drawing board to prepare another potted history for us all to admire. Stokesay Ware are exhibiting at The Dorking Dolls House Fair at Leatherhead on June 4 or Tel:020 7254 5242 for more information   Asiatic Pheasant.     1 :: 2         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