The History
The seeds of the Silver Crane Company were planted way back in 1979 when Anne and I took over a market stall in Camden lock market in London. Little did we know back then that we would be embarking on an adventure that would see The Silver Crane Company producing “probably the best tins in the world!”
In those early days we sold “fun ceramics” from the cream of England’s gifted potters who created fun teapots, vases and other fancy ceramics.
Soon we had two stalls at Camden Lock and a third one at Portobello Road. We formed a new company called “Pot Luck” and started exhibiting at trade shows in the UK followed by Paris and New York.
Sales were now on a worldwide basis and, in the late 1970’s we went into partnership with one of our suppliers “Hobbs Welch”.
Hobbs Welch not only produced fun ceramics but also created tin kits under license to companies such as Shell oil, Kiwi shoe polish, and Wilkinson Sword.
With a change in ownership came a change in name and ‘The Silver Crane Company Limited’ was born. In the early 80’s, we relocated to the New Forest where we set up a design studio warehousing facility.
By this time we had our own pottery in Suckley, Worcestershire with our partner Ursula Mason and had teamed up with the talented potter Les Raynor. During this period we created some of the best fun teapots in the world as well as branded ceramic products under licence with the likes of Parker Pen and Marmite. These are all now highly collectible and sought after.
In 1987 we won the coveted Queens Award for Export and shortly afterwards our partner Ursula left the company to pursue motherhood, leaving The Silver Crane Company in the sole ownership of myself and Anne.
With the loss of Ursula’s pottery, Silver Crane concentrated on creating the best tin packaging in the world. We grew our art studio and won ‘The Best in Metal Packaging Awards’ year on year in every category.
Silver Crane now work with some of the largest food manufacturers and retailers worldwide supplying custom design and stock tin ranges.
We are recognised throughout the world as the number 1 tin packaging design company and we continue to ‘wow’! and surprise the market with stunning new designs and ranges every year.
People often ask me what the secret is behind our continued design creativity and success. All I can say is that our design creativity is born from passion – we’re like little kids in a candy shop and love what we do!
Julian Goodman