THE final meeting of the year took place in October. After the AGM, speaker Prof Bob Davies gave a talk about Worcester porcelain.

Bob began by collecting furniture but this proved in the end to be too bulky. He decided to specialise in porcelain, especially Worcester porcelain, as it was local and of high quality.

It has been in continuous production for longer than any other porcelain, since 1751. Chelsea and Bow produced porcelain in 1744 but these factories were soon out of business as their products were expensive whereas Worcester produced everyday items of exquisite quality.

The Worcester factory started with 15 men. River transport and raw materials were readily available. They marked their wares with a crescent. Wall, Flyte, Davis and Barr were famous for producing fine porcelain.

The Flyte and Barr period continued until 1840 when a decline set in as only fine, expensive items were produced. In 1862 the firm became a joint stock company named Royal Worcester and over the years a number of other factories were taken over by them.

Worcester ware is varied but in 1751 the fashion was for blue and white Chinese ware so tea bowls and saucers were imitated, as were the Chinese marks. Sevres and Meissen had built up a reputation for fine wares so Worcester copied them, but before long was producing its own distinctive styles.

Professor Davies illustrated his talk with slides and brought some pieces from his own collection, which were passed around with some trepidation, but there were no accidents.

His advice was to buy quality and then value will always rise or be maintained.

The Friends meet again in March.