About

Christopher Dresser was Britain’s first independent industrial designer.

The Christopher Dresser Society exists to:

• To promote the study of Dr Christopher Dresser and the people and events connected to his life.
• To promote a greater awareness and appreciation of Dr Christopher Dresser and his work.
• To support the identification, preservation, and display of artefacts and materials associated with Dr Christopher Dresser.

In 2013 the Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough, already home to the largest collection of Linthorpe Pottery in the world, acquired a significant collection of Dresser artefacts. With the assistance of a major Heritage Lottery Fund grant, funds from other bodies, and private donations by Christopher Dresser enthusiasts, the Dorman was successful in unveiling the collection in the permanent Christopher Dresser Gallery at the Dorman Museum, in June 2014.

The creation of the Christopher Dresser Gallery was the stimulus for the establishment of the Christopher Dresser Society, providing a focal point for those with an interest in Dresser and will provide opportunities to develop and share expertise.

The  Society encourages study, research and other activities to expand and improve knowledge of Dr Christopher Dresser, his life and activities, and the products of his work, disseminates the results of such research mentioned above, through written papers and books, through presentations and conferences, and through social media, and facilitates the identification, preservation, and display of artefacts and materials associated with Dr Christopher Dresser.

Since its establishment, the Society has organised a number of conferences with international contributors – in 2015, 2017, and 2021 – and has published newsletters and journals to enable research to be shared.

Membership of the Society is open to anyone with an interest in Dr Christopher Dresser and his work. Join here.