Portmeirion Birds Of Britain Framed Test Tile, Fieldfare, B138
Portmeirion Pottery

A Portmeirion Birds Of Britain Framed Test Reference Tile, Fieldfare, Designed By Susan Williams-Ellis.

An exceptionally rare Portmeirion Birds of Britain factory test tile featuring the Fieldfare motif - a genuine piece of Portmeirion pottery history, professionally framed in a museum-quality shadow box.

This rectangular test tile was used inside the Portmeirion factory during the production period of the iconic Birds of Britain range (1977-1997). Factory workers used these reference tiles daily to ensure consistency in colour, positioning, size, and quality before pieces entered full production. Each piece of Birds of Britain pottery was checked against tiles like this to meet Susan Williams-Ellis's exacting standards.

Normally kept as factory archive material for quality control and future reference, these test tiles rarely become available to collectors. This is your opportunity to own a genuine artifact from the Portmeirion manufacturing process - a tangible connection to Susan Williams-Ellis's design genius and the skilled craftspeople who brought her vision to life.

The Fieldfare Design

The Fieldfare illustration, taken from Edward Donovan's classic 'Natural History of British Birds,' showcases the beautiful detail and naturalistic style that made Birds of Britain so beloved by collectors worldwide. This particular motif captures the distinctive spotted breast and elegant proportions of this thrush species.

Museum-Quality Presentation

The tile has been professionally framed in a shadow box that mirrors the brand colours of Portmeirion, creating a sophisticated display piece that celebrates both the tile's historical significance and its artistic beauty. The frame provides depth and protection while allowing the tile to be appreciated as the work of art it truly is.

Ready to hang - this stunning piece works equally well in a collector's display, kitchen, dining room, or as part of a mid-century modern interior.

This is a true collector's item for any serious Birds of Britain enthusiast - a slice of Susan Williams-Ellis's pure genius, preserved and ready to display.

Perfect For

• Serious Portmeirion Birds of Britain collectors seeking rare factory pieces
• Those who appreciate vintage pottery history and manufacturing heritage
• Interior designers looking for unique mid-century statement pieces
• Anyone who loves Susan Williams-Ellis's iconic designs
• Gift for the Portmeirion collector who has everything

Approx Dimensions:- 

Frame

20.5 in (52 cm) x 18 in (46 cm) x 1.75 in ( 4 cm)

Birds of Britain

Susan Williams-Ellis originally conceived the idea for a Birds Of Britain range in 1974. The beautiful and highly decorative illustrations were taken from the book 'Natural History Of British Birds' by E. Donovan. The range launched in 1977, initially exclusively to John Lewis in the UK and Bitossi in Italy then to all other distributers in 1978. This design became most popular in the USA and Europe but for some reason not so much in the UK, which Susan could never understand. The Barn Owl was removed to please the Italian market, where they were considered an ill omen, and the Black Cock was removed as it's name was thought to discourage sales. These two designs have since become highly collectable as they are much rarer than others, as they were discontinued in 1985. The whole range was discontinued around 1997, although some special orders were still available up to 2002.