Bowl, oval, vitrified earthenware, designed by in-house team, made by Dudson for Virgin Trains, Tunstall, 2009.

Oval bowl. Vitrified earthenware with linear pattern in shallow relief. The body used is what Dudson refer to as their Vitrified Hotelware body. According to Ian Dudson, "this body is based on a traditional earthenware with the addition of Alumina and a higher concentration of fluxes with correspondingly higher firing temperatures to make the body non porous for hotelware use rather than the traditional porous earthenware used in domestic markets."

Given by Dudson Ltd.

From a set of six items designed and produced for Virgin Trains for use in the First Class catering on its Pendolino services. The range comprises: cassoulet dish, mug, teardrop plate, square plate, oval bowl and packet sugar container. According to press releases from Dudson and Virgin Trains, the contract placed in 2008 was for more than a quarter of a million pieces. The set replaced china that had been in use since the launch of the Pendolino service in 2004, the Dudson design providing "better utilisation [that] will mean that the total number of pieces in each individual set will reduce from nine to five." The press releases also quoted Nic Cuthbertson, Virgin Trains' Product Development and Purchasing Manager as saying: "We have been impressed by Dudson's professionalism in understanding our requirements and converting our ideas to something real and workable. They represent the very best in British workmanship and materials."

Made for Virgin Trains. Designed in-house by Dudson design team.

This item is part of a set produced by Dudson for use by Virgin Trains in the First Class catering on its Pendolino services. Designed by the in-house team at Dudson, the set was conceived so as to minimise the number of individual items required. The award of the contract to supply Virgin Trains with more than quarter of a million pieces reflects Dudson's success in the hotelware market at the start of the 21st century.

C.266-2009