When the awkward spots are sprayed with glaze, the glaze must be coloured with vegetable dye so no bits are missed. These bright sprays of colour reminded me of the dyes sprayed onto farm animals to distinguish one flock from another.

Near the Design Studio are the ‘Standard Shelves’. These contain all the shapes in RCD’s range, with a generic name, basic measurements (a mean figure based on measuring one hundred of the same shape), a date and the initials of the person who measured it. This is to aid surface design and pattern fitting. The thing that draws you in is that this information is written in gold, adding a spark to the purely practical.

These two images within the factory appeared to me to have a connection with the collectors’ market at RCD. Collectability means each piece marked for ownership and belonging within a group. Each piece is made to the correct specification.

Envisaged as a limited edition group.

Self-initiated project during a three week work placement in July 2009 at Royal Crown Derby, a fine bone china manufacturer whose products have been made in the UK since 1750.