Maw & Co
 |
|
| Private Limited Company | |
| Industry | Manufacture of ceramic tiles |
| Founded | 1850 in Worcester, England |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | England |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
| Website | mawandco |
Maw & Co have made earthenware encaustic and geometric floor tiles since 1850, when the company was established by George Maw and his brother Arthur. Their first factory was in Worcester and in 1862 the company moved to Broseley, Shropshire in the Ironbridge Gorge. In 1883 they moved to the Benthall Works in Jackfield, Shropshire. The new, purpose-built factory was the largest tile works in the world and the company was the world's largest producer of ceramic tiles, making more than 20 million pieces a year.
The range of tiles was expanded over the years and included relief tiles, mosaic tiles, transfer printed tiles and hand-painted picture tiles. Designs included Art Nouveau and Art Deco geometric designs. In the 1890s Maw & Co started making high quality art pottery.
Maw & Co was established in Worcester in 1850 by brothers George and Arthur Maw. Their father, John Hornby Maw (1800 – 1885), felt that the tile industry would be a good business opportunity for his sons as it combined their artistic talents with their entrepreneurial skills. In 1849 he bought the Encaustic Tile Works in Worcester which had been established by the Worcester Porcelain Company.
They quickly gained a high reputation for their 'mock-mediaeval' encaustic floor tiles. The local clays were unsuitable and clay from Shropshire was brought in at great expense. In 1862 the company moved to Broseley, Shropshire in the Ironbridge Gorge to take advantage of the good-quality local clay. Until full commercial production was reached in 1857, the company barely covered its expenses but, within a few years, encaustic tiles became the height of fashion and the company prospered. By 1861 Maw & Co employed a work force of 83 (45 men, 17 women and 21 boys). The company continued to prosper and by 1880 had grown to be the largest producer of ceramic tiles in the world, making more than 20 million pieces a year. In May 1883 they moved to the Benthall Works at Jackfield, Shropshire. The new purpose-built factory covered an area of 5 acres (2.0 ha) and was the largest tile works in the world.
Maw & Co have supplied ceramic wall and floor tiles to some of the world’s most prestigious buildings. In Maw’s printed catalogues the 'Lists of persons and establishments supplied' ran to five pages and included the British Royal Family, Alexander II of Russia, maharajas, dukes, earls, railway companies, cathedrals, hospitals, public buildings, schools and colleges, and even warships. Maw and Co won many awards at international exhibitions including those in London (1862), Paris (1867), Philadelphia (1876) and Adelaide (1887).
...
Wikipedia