Inspiration | How the Centenary Range is made

From Clay to Cup: How the Centenary Range is made 

Ever wondered how our beautiful fine bone china comes to life? Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship behind every piece of the Queen Elizabeth II Centenary Range. 

This official range of royal chinaware collection has been released by Royal Collection Trust to celebrate the upcoming centenary in 2026 of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s birth. Each piece of fine bone china is handcrafted by skilled artisans in a renowned English Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, and finished in 22-carat gold. 

1. Shaping the Story

It all begins with a mould. After a long design process, the forms are created using plaster of Paris that shape every product. Once shaped, each piece is carefully hand-finished with seams and edges smoothed away to ensure a flawless surface before firing.

2. First Firing: The Biscuit Stage

The clay pieces are fired at 1240°C in what’s known as biscuit firing. This hardens the body and gives it strength, while special supports help maintain each item’s shape. After cooling, the surface is gently polished using a vibrating machine filled with very small 4mm wood and stone chips. The mix of wood and stone exfoliates the hardened biscuit pieces, removing any excess and providing a smoother body for the glazing process. 

3. Glazing & Glost Firing

Next comes the glaze,a liquid glass that gives bone china its signature smooth, white finish. It’s applied by hand dipping, machine spraying, or hand spraying, depending on the shape. The glazed pieces are then fired again at 1080°C in glost kilns, fusing the glaze into a glossy, translucent surface desirable in fine bone china.

4. Decoration & Gilding

Designs are printed as waterslide decals and applied meticulously by hand, along with any gilding or coloured accents, using traditional brushes and techniques. The lithograph applied to the china appears yellow before turning pink in the firing process.

5. Final Firing & Finishing Touches

Decorated items are fired once more at 850°C to permanently fuse the artwork and precious metals into the glaze. After a final quality check, each piece is carefully packed, ready to beshipped to you to be enjoyed, gifted, or treasured.

From start to finish, every item is a testament to the artistry and heritage of fine bone china from Stoke-on-Trent. Whether it’s one of our four colourful mugs or a charming collectable teacup, you’re holding centuries of tradition in your hands.