Expectations of quality are exceptionally high at RCD. Every object, at every stage is checked by someone. Where imperfections are found, they are corrected and refired. A piece may go round and round a process, but remain second best. After the glaze firing, the pieces arrive at a line of three tables with a lady at each. Sharp eyes and quick hands mark each imperfection in synthetic-bright marker pen. These oddments were stacked all around them, and I found them exciting. So refined, so ‘fine bone china’ but with bold marks that have no artifice. Marks that would be burned away until I asked the lady to use a different pen.

Then quality control became decoration.

Envisaged for unlimited batch production of ‘mix and match’ items.

Self-initiated project during a three week work placement in July 2009 at Royal Crown Derby.