Belleek Irish Parian Porcelain Collection

Story

Founded in 1857 to provide local employment during the aftermath of the Great Famine, Belleek utilized unique local clay deposits to create porcelain so thin it was deemed translucent. These pieces brought Irish craftsmanship to the global stage, winning gold medals at international expositions.

Maker / Origin

Belleek Pottery was established by John Caldwell Bloomfield, who discovered rich deposits of feldspar and clay on his estate in County Fermanagh, Ireland. He partnered with architect Robert Williams Armstrong and merchant David McBirney to build a state-of-the-art pottery designed to produce the highest quality parian ware.

Condition & Value

The visible pieces appear to be in very good condition with excellent glaze preservation. The delicate applied flowers on the woven basket and the thistle vase must be inspected closely under magnification, as tiny chips to these fragile elements are common and can reduce individual piece values by 30-50%.