Japanning in Europe

Items produced in the East were shipped back to European merchants who had opened up links with Japan. It was not long before the Japanware articles became highly sought after.

Demand proved to be more than the oriental countries could provide and Europeans tried to produce their own version of it. Developments in iron making helped Britain, and in particular, Pontypool, become an important manufacturer of Japanware.

It was a family of ironmasters - the Hanbury's of Pontypool - who pioneered the production of iron Japan-ware.

Other Tutorials