A major new public artwork commemorating the worldwide legacy of Royal Worcester porcelain has today been unveiled at the site of the city’s former factory.
The Vessel sculpture, created by artists Neil Musson and Jono Retallick, is inspired by shards of porcelain discovered in excavations of the original factory site.
It is intended to be both a decorative object and a container for the precious memories heard from former porcelain workers that they met during the creative process.
Installed outside Henry Sandon Hall in Worcester’s ‘Porcelain Quarter’, the sculpture is complemented by wall-mounted plaques that form a new hallmark trail which takes visitors round the historic site, taking in the former factory and exploring its history. Each plaque can be scanned to listen to a sound collage evoking the atmosphere of factory life as remembered by the people who worked there.
The artwork, commissioned by Worcester City Council, Museum of Royal Worcester and Royal Porcelain Works, was unveiled by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire Lucy Chenevix-Trench, at an event attended by residents and many of the staff who used to work at the historic site.
Artists musson+retallick told the crowd how they ran a series of workshops with members of the local community and former workers at ‘The Porcelain’ to develop the concept for the artwork and ensure it reflected the lived experience of the people who worked on the world-famous porcelain.
Students from Nunnery Wood High School presented how they have used oral history recordings of interviews with former porcelain workers to create a series called The Porcelain Podcasts, available on the Museum of Royal Worcester’s YouTube channel.
Visitors were also able to enjoy an interactive insight into the history of Worcester porcelain through a brand new high tech Omi Mobii projector, sited in Henry Sandon Hall. Funded by the Bransford Trust, an independent grant-making charity that invested in the multi-million pound redevelopment of the Royal Porcelain Works, the device gives access to oral history recordings of former Royal Worcester workers, digital jigsaws, then-and-now interactive imagery, and motion-activated porcelain painting.
Councillor Lynn Denham, Leader of Worcester City Council, said: “Our city’s proud heritage is one of the major attractions for tourists visiting Worcester, and the addition of this beautiful public artwork to the Porcelain Quarter is one more reason for people to enjoy all that we have to offer.
“The City Council is grateful to Berkeley Homes for funding this project as part of a planning contribution for their successful Waterside residential development.”
Kate Travers, Museum of Royal Worcester Director, said: “This is a historic moment in the 275-year history for the site, celebrating the hard work, community spirit and innovation that the people of Worcester brought to the world. It is wonderful to have this opportunity to bring together community, artists and organisations to celebrate all those involved in making Worcester the outstanding producer of world class porcelain.”
Duncan Sutcliffe, Trustee of the Bransford Trust, said: “It is wonderful to see The Royal Porcelain Works site thriving. Worcester is undergoing a fantastic transformation to be an even better place to live, work and visit, and the Trust is delighted to play a part in that.”
The new public artwork is now open to the public and can be visited for free in the courtyard off Severn Street.
