​One of Only 3 Early Prototypes

Kevin Francis Face Pot Prototype, Winston Churchill

In 1999 when Kevin Pearson and the Kevin Francis design team started to develop the concept, artist Ray Noble submitted an early design for a Winston Churchill Face Pot where the body was sculpted as a separate section to the pot. This created a much larger more bulbous shape and it was decided to abandon this approach and focus on the smaller, rounder, relief type sculptures that are the accepted norm for the Kevin Francis Face Pot collection today.

However this original model was cast and two pieces were produced in black coat colorway which was rejected by Kevin and Rhod. A third cast was painted blue by the Design Team as a further trial but never reached Rhod and Kevin as the decision had already been made. This final blue colorway was found in the storeroom in 2004 when the pottery moved production to Hanley.

In perfect condition it is just over 4″ in height.
Written on the base is a

Signature (which I can’t decipher)
2005
KF Trial (Kevin Francis)

A unique piece of Face Pot history, one of the very first pieces produced by Kevin Francis.

Item #203