Pink Asiatic Pheasants – The Romantic Story So Far…

Icon for the Ages 

This is a story of 174 years of dedication to creating something special – for homes, generations of collectors, tea tables, and dinner tables around the world. Sometimes, that calls for something romantically different; something that conjures up images of cups of tea and cake on a sunny afternoon. Sometimes, pink is just the ticket. 

Asiatic Pheasants is one of the most loved patterns here at Burleigh. It’s a very special design for us, for a whole host of reasons – and this summer, we’re looking at some of the different colourways we produce. Starting with pink. 

Asiatic Pheasants was once produced by well over 60 different factories across Stoke-on-Trent, particularly in the northern part of the city – the towns of Burslem and Tunstall. The story starts in 1851 for our company, Burleigh Pottery – or to give it its full name, Burgess & Leigh Ltd. 

In 1862, company founders Frederick Rathbone Burgess and William Leigh took over the existing company Hulme & Booth. One pattern that was already a success was Asiatic Pheasants, so they continued its production – and, essentially, never stopped. Through all the intervening years, this pattern has found its place. 

These days, Burleigh is the very last company producing the pattern – and, importantly, we make our pottery in just the same way as we did in 1851, using the same techniques and skill. It's also worth noting that we manufacture every piece of Pink Asiatic Pheasants in our one factory in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England – at Middleport Pottery, our home since 1889. This ensures we not only protect and nurture the great skills of our craftspeople, but also that every piece is of the highest standard – each unique, durable, and truly beautiful. 

Pretty in Pink 

Although the pale blue version is the most widely recognised, it often surprises people to learn that other colours have always been present – coming and going depending on the tastes and demands of our customers. Pink has been a popular choice throughout, although the exact tone has varied over time. In the 1800s, a much darker pink was desirable, while over the past three decades, a softer and paler version has proved more fitting. 

It naturally lends itself to that romantic English picture of afternoon tea, cakes and scones. But it’s also part of a wider story that’s brought Burleigh to a younger audience – one that mixes various colours of Asiatic Pheasants together to create a contemporary but playful look. Collecting Burleigh in this multi-coloured way can bring a fresh and different mood to existing collections that stick to the more well-known blue. 

The Technique 

The way we decorate our pottery is incredibly important to us. It takes time and skill to decorate in all our colourways – which results in depth of colour, durability, and uniqueness. 

Everything starts with an engraving – and for Pink Asiatic Pheasants, there’s no exception. The design is interpreted onto a copper cylinder, where deeper engraving creates darker shades, and lighter engraving creates paler shades of colour. No engraving at all means the white clay shows through, with no additional colour. 

Using these principles, we can create a pattern with huge depth of field – which is especially important for a design like Asiatic Pheasants, where flowers and birds need to show light and shade.