A PREVIOUSLY unseen book of ceramic designs will be revealed during a three day festival in Middlesbrough this summer, celebrating the life and work of Victorian designer Christopher Dresser.

The revelation follows the Dorman Museum’s acquisition of a ‘pattern book’ for Ault Pottery which contains several hundred hand-drawn designs, believed to be from the 1890s.

About 40 drawings in the book are known to be copies of designs done by Dr Dresser for Linthorpe Pottery, which went into liquidation in 1890.

The moulds from Linthorpe Pottery were sold off, including a quantity to Ault Pottery, which began to reproduce these shapes in its factory.

Paul Denison, principal lecturer in Teesside University’s School of Arts & Media and chairman of the Christopher Dresser Society, said: “This pattern book for Ault really takes research on Dresser in a new direction.

“It raises the possibility that his body of work is more extensive than is currently known and that items previously not attributed to him, can now be confirmed.”

DresserFest, organised by the Christopher Dresser Society, Teesside University and the Dorman Museum, is a series of events including exhibitions, gallery tours, lectures and workshops, taking place between July 2-4.

During the three day event, there will be a chance for visitors to be among the first people to see the newly revealed Christopher Dresser designs which will go on to be housed permanently at the Dorman Museum after the DresserFest.

Mr Denison added: “All of the events and exhibitions are free and it is going to be a fantastic way to extend the dialogue about Dresser’s influence.”