Red List Comment Submission

Commenting on: Encaustic tile making

Section one - About you

Section two - Description of the craft

If you are commenting on an existing craft, please select it here and skip the next two questions

Please enter the name of the craft you would like us to add here.

If this is a new craft type please select the most suitable category

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify an era/century/approximate historic period.

Heritage Crafts uses a system of four categories of risk to assess the viability of heritage crafts. A heritage craft is considered to be viable if there are sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation. For more information on definitions see http://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist/categories-of-risk/

Section three - Current numbers of those practising the craft in the UK

People earning their main craft income from this craft (selling, commissions, conservation/ restoration and/or teaching).

People practicing this craft commercially (selling, commissions, conservation/restoration and/or teaching) but as less than half of their income.

People acquiring skills in order to become a professional in this craft, they probably have to work under supervision even if they are earning money while training.

People whose knowledge and ability is at a level of the most skilled practitioners of this craft.

People who do not intend to practice this craft professionally or at the highest level.

Section four - Issues affecting the viability of the craft

Existing content:
  • Training and recruitment issues – there are currently no apprenticeships in ceramics although there is a Level 3 Craft Assistant (Ceramics) Apprenticeship currently under development (see Training Providers below).
  • Training and recruitment issues – There is often a gap between expectation and reality in tile making. This form of tile making is a very ‘hands on’ skill that uses almost no technological input. However, most new potential entrants come with design degrees and want to be able to use their IT and design skills. This makes it challenging to recruit the right people for the job.
  • Market issues – Whilst there is a continuing demand for encaustic tiles, there are often issues around funding and procurement for heritage and restoration projects.
  • Supply of raw materials– Some clay ingredients, such as lead and barium are getting difficult to source. This can be due to safety concerns and/or a lack of demand from the ceramics industry to make them commercially viable.
  • Supply of tools and equipment – specialist equipment is getting difficult to source as they are no longer manufactured and much of the used/vintage machinery is shipped to overseas companies.
  • Legislative issues – there are some Health & Safety restrictions around materials handling.
  • Brexit – this has led to difficulties in sourcing materials and markets, and has led to rising costs.
  • Small business issues – Rising energy costs, particularly for firing kilns, have put additional financial pressure on practitioners.
  • Supply of raw materials– Some clay ingredients, such as lead and barium are getting difficult to source. This can be due to safety concerns and/or a lack of demand from the ceramics industry to make them commercially viable. The race to mine rare-earth metals such as cobalt and lithium to manufacture batteries for the Electric Vehicle industry has also led to an increase in costs to manufacture stains and oxides for the ceramics industry as they share common properties.

e.g. lack of qualifications, funding for training etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. lack of demand for products/skills etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

Tick the box if there are difficulties with the supply of raw materials, allied materials or tools

If yes, please describe the issues below

i.e. issues around running any small business, not just crafts

If yes, please describe the issues below

Is the main workforce made up of people who are approaching retirement age?

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. legal restrictions on materials, health and safety etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. Brexit, Covid-19, conflict

If yes, please describe the issues below

Please describe any other issues

Section five - Current Initiatives to preserve craft skills

Please describe any UK projects or schemes

Section six - Main players in the craft – please tell us who you know about

Please list any known practitioners of this craft — add a row item for each person or business and complete the fields to the best of your knowledge. To get started click the `Add practitioner` button below.

1
Add practitioner

Section seven - Optional additional information

It may include when and where the craft developed, how it has changed over time, etc.

e.g. festivals, religious celebrations, agricultural practices, music, dance etc.

e.g. religious, ethnic, social class. Please give an overview of the techniques involved in the craft.

This may involve different materials, techniques, styles or finished products.

e.g. books, websites etc.