Wade BackgroundFor collectors, Wade is associated with small giftware animals and birds, and for special commissions from all manner of industries. However, the Wade group of potteries now Wade Ceramics Limited produce a number of products which relate in part to how the company has evolved. Originally, the Wade family and friends ran a number of potteries (including George Wade & Sons Ltd which began in 1810) in a number of towns. Over time these potteries amalgamated and in the 1950s a public company 'Wade Potteries Limited' was formed. In 1989 Wade Potteries PLC was renamed Wade Ceramics Limited (after being acquired by Beauford PLC). 
There has been a growing interest in the products of Wade in the last few years.
Many of the Wade products were tied in with advertising promotions and there has been
a big interest in this from collectors. Also, until recently many of the products had
been relatively cheap as they had been given away or originally sold cheaply such
as the Wade Whimsies. Another factor attracting collectors is the diversity of the
products that Wade has produced including a range of Piggy Banks for National Westminster Bank,
a series of monk figurines for KP crisps, to entire ranges of animals, birds, dinosaurs,
nursery rhyme characters, to jugs for distilleries, and Disney characters.
In 1994 the Official International Wade Collectors Club was founded. Its aims are to support collectors of Wade, by offering information and help. Members also receive an exclusive members piece, the chance to purchase one each of the four limited edition pieces produced each year. The 1999 Club Editions are from Alice in Wonderland. The figurines are based on original drawings from the first edition of the book. Other characters are the Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, the Dormouse, and a special edition of the Queen of Hearts. There is also a quarterly magazine Wade's World, a membership pin and a membership certificate. Wade Club Membership Editions. For more information contact: The Official International Wade Collectors Club, Wade Ceramics Limited, Royal Works, Westport Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 4AP, England. In UK Tel: 01782 255255 Fax: 01782 575195 From Overseas: Tel: 044 1782 255255 Fax: 044 1782 575195 [Home Page] [Collectables Featured] [WCN Magazine] [WCN Shopping Arcade] [The Bookstore] [Search] |