Stone Wave

Marketed as a cooker, it is more accurately described as a ramekin.  The difference being the “chimney” in the lid, somewhat similar to the North-African standard Tajine, which is designed to return condensation to the food inside.  Advertised widely on television recently, Stone Wave cookers are now beginning to appear in second hand stores, which is where I picked up these two.  It was (and still is) sold by the “As Seen On TV” people who are part of the TeleBrands Corp.

TeleBrands Corporation began in 1983 and has its headquarters in Fairfield, New Jersey U.S.A.  It now has multi billion-dollar turnover from direct marketing of a range of products, predominantly through television advertising.  One of the successful products is the Stone Wave Cooker.  It is made for them in China by the Ningbo LKO International Trade Company Limited Houcao Xiang No 43, Ningbo, in the province of Zhejiang.  This small company began in early 2014 and now exports most of its output to North America, Europe and the Middle East.

Designer	Not known
Maker	Ningbo LKO International Trade Co. Ltd.
Marks	No marks
Material	Glazed earthenware
Description	Mould formed gloss glazed earthenware bowl.  Flat foot, hollow tube handle fixed at a slight upward angle from centre of exterior of bowl.
Condition	Very good
Number	No number
Production Date	2014
Width at rim
Width at Base
Depth
Length (with handle)
Weight
Volume
Acquisition	Purchase Savers Stores Fountain Gate 16 March 2015
Rameking Reference Number	TEL 001 - 002

Kitchen Craft

These are not strictly speaking, Ramekins, but they fit the description.  They are a set of ceramic measuring cups ranging in size from 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 to 1 cup.  Each cup has the measurements in cup, millilitres and fluid ounces printed on the handle.  These are from a collection known as their “Classic Collection.”  A wide range of matching ceramics and accessories, many of them made in China.

Unlike many makers of pottery and porcelain, information about the founder of the Kitchen Craft Company is sparse indeed.  If I got the right one, he was born in Warwickshire in 1799 and died there in 1867.  He began as a wholesale Ironmonger and seller of household goods.  The company was founded in 1850 as a foundry and continued in family hands registered as “Thomas Plant (Birmingham) Ltd” but trading as “Kitchen Craft”.  Its registered office is at Plumbob House, Valepit Road, Garretts Green, Birmingham, UK  (Company No 3411690). 

Kitchen Craft is one of the largest suppliers of household goods in Britain, offering over 3,000 products for sale through a number of different subsidiaries.  These are; Master Class, Bar Craft, Le'Xpress, World of Flavours, Miniamo, Home Made, Clearview, Kitsch'n'fun, Coolmovers, Let's Make, Colourworks, Sweetly does it, Santa and Friends, Let it Snow and others.

Kitchen Craft were taken over in 2014 by the New York based company; Lifetime Brands Inc.  The Great Great Grandchildren of the founder Thomas Plant are still managing the company.  They source their goods world-wide and export to over 70 countries.

Designer	Not known
Maker	Thomas Plant (Birmingham) Ltd
Marks	Stamped to base
Material	Glazed slip
Description	Set of fou glazed slip bowls, fitting inside each other.  Tab handles with measurements printed to upper surface.
Condition	Very Good
Number	No number
Production Date	Not Known, possibly 1990s
Weight
Volume	As shown below
Acquisition	Purchase Waverley Antiques 13 March 2015
Rameking Reference Number	KIN 001-004

Size of cups

1 Cup   250 ml        9fl oz        90mm w 120mm with Handle     68mm D         80mm base

1/2Cup  125ml    4.5 fl oz        80mm w 110mm with handle      40mm D         70mm base

1/3 Cup   80ml       3 fl oz        77mm w 112mm with handle      30mm D         60mm base

¼ Cup   60ml    2 fl oz       73mm w 100 mm with handle     26mm D         53mm base