Lambs' lineage as terracotta and faience manufacturers dates back to 1918 when the company acquired the South Eastern Brick and Terra Cotta Company. Although mass manufacture ceased after the Second World War, Lambs continued to specially produce small quantities of architectural terracotta.

In the blood

Lambs can manufacture bespoke ceramics to match any architectural period. One of our ceramic specialists will visit your site, assess your needs and provide full-size working drawings. We will also produce tailored samples of architectural terracotta to exactly match the colour and texture required. This initial process is identical when Lambs are instructed to create replacement architectural faience (glazed terracotta). However, the manufacture of architectural faience involves the application of glazes and engobes (pigmented clay slip) which we blend on a bespoke basis and produce colour samples for our Clientsapproval to replicate the colour ranges and textures of the existing material.

Lambs have invested in cutting edge technology, including computer-controlled kilns, to ensure the colour, size and consistency of our ceramics. Multiple clay bodies or glazes can be fired at 5 different temperatures simultaneously within 24 to 64 hours, allowing us to produce a huge range of colour and texture samples for our client’s consideration.

The plaster model and mould making process

Once we have received an official approval of our drawings and colour samples, Lambs’ ceramicists begin the model making process. These highly skilled craftsmen create hand-made over-sized plaster and clay models. These are then used to create an exact negative mould.

Once this plaster negative is ready for use, Lambs’ ceramicists carefully and meticulously hand press highly refined clay into the moulds. The clay is then left to harden.

Traditional hand pressed terracotta

When it is hard, the clay is painstakingly released. The architectural terracotta sculpture or masonry item is then hand polished with specialist tools. This aligns the clay particles, creating a very smooth surface that forms a fire skin after firing. The terracotta artifact is then carefully dried in controlled conditions and our ceramicists carry out tests to ensure it is fully dry before it is fired in our computerised kilns. If the article is a piece of architectural faience it is glazed prior to firing.

By using computer-controlled kilns, Lambs can ensure the accuracy of our reproduction glaze and clay finishes. These state of the art kilns provide precise temperature consistency and programmable firing schedules. The specialist firing programmes Lambs use for their Terracotta and Faience has been developed to produce authentic reproduction items. The programmes allow Lambs to faithfully re-create the work of master makers of the past. Over the years Lambs have manufactured replacement material to match that produced by Royal Doulton, James Stiff and Son, Gibbs and Canning, Minton, Pulham, Blanchard, Blashfield and Coade stone to name just a few.

In 2004, Lambs acquired the complete mould catalogue of Ibstock Hathernware Limited which started life as the Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company, in 1874 and ceased operations after 130 years. This mould catalogue is extensive and includes a selection of items for the Natural History Museum in London and Warwick Castle. Lambs are proud to have saved these important historical moulds.

Delivery

Down to the last detail

The meticulous attention Lambs give to producing your order continues in delivery. We are proud of our products and take great care packing them. Our drivers are skilled in transporting and handling fragile ceramic items such as trays of intricate mouldings and every effort is made to ensure your order arrives in perfect condition. If required, we will individually label your items to correspond to our drawings, easing their identification and final placement.

Faience detail from the Bluebird Café where Malcolm Campbell built his famous car showing the legendary bluebird motif and floral design.

Lambs ceramist hand finishing bluebird design prior to glazing.

Lambs sculptor modelling oversize bluebird motif ready for mould making process.

Lambs replacement Royal Doulton Capital ready to be released from the mould and hand finished.

Lambs craftsman hand finishing pressed architectural terracotta capital.

Lambs ceramicists carefully packing kiln cars with terracotta ready to be fired.

Lambs red architectural terracotta packaged and ready to deliver to site.