A leading manufacturer of ceramic pool tiles has helped to ensure the Tower of London moat is flowing with poppies after stepping in to make thousands of the ceramic flowers.
Stoke-on-Trent based Johnson Tiles was approached by project artist Paul Cummins, to help meet the target of 888,246 poppies, with each ceramic flower representing a person who died in the war. The company recruited a team of specialist ceramic artists, who individually made and decorated each poppy by hand.
Harry Foster, specialist projects manager at Johnson Tiles, said: “We were very honoured to be asked to contribute to this poignant project. I am sure that I speak for all the team at Johnson Tiles when I say we cannot begin to describe our immense sense of pride and accomplishment, to have played such a significant role in this magnificent installation that has endeared itself to our nation.”
Around 8,000 poppies a day were made by the team at Johnson Tiles, in a labour intensive process involving very traditional, skilled method of making, beginning with clay processing to produce slabs.
