Strawberry Thief 30s Mug by Burleigh PRE- ORDER

Stylish yet practical, this new and exclusive hand-crafted mug featuring the beloved ‘strawberry thief design’ by Willam Morris, will add charm and refinement to your everyday refreshments. 

First designed in 1883, Strawberry Thief was one of Morris's most expensive cottons to produce, with three separate printing dyes required to be hand printed using woodblocks, taking several days to complete. Despite this, it remained one of the most popular Morris designs as it has in modern day. The original design was inspired by Morris observing thrushes stealing fruit from his kitchen at Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire. 

This contemporary interpretation of the design has been uniquely decorated by skilled craftsmen with Burleigh's centuries-old technique of tissue transfer printing from hand-engraved copper rollers in the last remaining pottery using this technique in the UK. 

The elegant shape of this mug is just as steeped in history as its design. On the factory floor at Burleigh, this piece is known as the '30s Mug' a direct link to the pottery's heritage.

For centuries, potters were paid based on "piece work," with their wages calculated by a "Potters Dozen." This unique system of measurement, based on the number of items that would fit on a ware-board, was used to account for the size and complexity of each piece. For this particular mug, a "dozen" was made up of 30 mugs. Although modern Burleigh workers now have a set hourly wage, the "dozen number" remains as a way to identify shapes. This simple name ensures that aspects of pottery history continue to live on in the day-to-day language of the modern pottery worker.

Combining a contemporary shape with traditional crafts skills, this mug makes a splendid gift for both tea lovers and supporters of the arts and crafts movement. 

Forming part of our Legacy Collection, where rare objects and designs from the gallery’s archive are skillfully recontextualized with a contemporary lens in small numbers by modern British artisans. Every purchase directly supports the maker & the traditional practice of art and crafts within the UK, alongside supporting William Morris Gallery’s work, helping to fund our education initiatives, conservation efforts and world-class exhibitions.

Care & Information 

• Mug 2/3pt: H 9cm x W 12.5cm x D 9cm / 375ml
• Made from earthenware
• Our earthenware products are microwave and dishwasher safe. We recommend using low temperatures and liquid detergents when washing, or alternatively washing by hand and drying with a soft cloth. Unsuitable for oven and freezer use.
• Every piece of Burleigh is proudly handmade at Middleport Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, England.
• Arrives in giftbox 
• Exclusive to William Morris Gallery
• PRE-ORDER - Stock due to arrive early December. You will be emailed to confirm dispatch

About Burleigh

We have been crafting high-quality ceramics in England for over 160 years. Recognised for our dedication to fine craftsmanship and traditional manufacturing, we have been making our iconic blue and white ceramics, using the same techniques for generations. We are the last pottery in the world to use the traditional and timeless skill of underglaze tissue printing, which is an English process dating back over 200 years.

Here at Burleigh we use traditional skills and techniques, the highest-quality raw materials and our dedicated team of craftspeople to create our classic and timeless tableware, just like we did 170 years ago.