Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand

Crown Lynn pottery: A Kiwi icon

Crown Lynn Potteries Ltd was established in 1948 by Tom Clark, whose vision was to fill New Zealand homes with locally made homeware.

The Crown Lynn brand grew out of the ‘specials department’ of the Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company (Ambrico), which was managed by Tom Clark’s father.

By the 1960s, Crown Lynn Potteries Ltd was the largest pottery company in the Southern Hemisphere. At its height in the 1970s, Crown Lynn was producing 15 million pieces a year.

The following decade, however, witnessed the company’s demise and Crown Lynn closed its gates in 1989. Today, the Crown Lynn brand remains a firm favourite amongst many New Zealanders.

  • bohemia-ware-mireksmisek-crownlynn-700x525.jpg

    Crown Lynn’s artware

    In the 1950s Crown Lynn produced several experimental ranges of hand-painted and hand-potted ceramics, commonly known as artware.

  • Ceramic swan by Crown Lynn

    Inspired by Crown Lynn

    Crown Lynn has become an iconic New Zealand brand, and is frequently referenced in popular culture, contemporary art and design. Here are some examples.