Unite & Type shop brings together letterpress and ceramics

When new store Unite & Type opens in a couple of weeks it will bring together ceramic and typographic design under one roof, in a space which is part workshop and part shop.

Unite Type's back room features three vintage letterpress machines
Unite Type’s back room features three vintage letterpress machines

The brainchild of  Gloria Daniel – founder of ceramic company The Big Tomato Company – the shop will offer ceramics out front and a typographic workshop out back.

‘We hope the print workshop will inspire our customers to create some great work on our mugs, plates, teapots, kitchen storage and tableware all made in our small factory in Stoke On-Trent,’ says Daniel.  

Unite Type's back room features three vintage letterpress machines
Unite Type’s back room features three vintage letterpress machines

She hopes the shop will be many things to many people, a broad church for those who want to tinker with applying type to ceramics and also a space for people to learn about letterpress.

‘The back of the store houses a letterpress print room where we will run workshops on an 1860s Albion, 1880 Cropper, and 1940s Adana Treadle,’ says Daniel.

‘After you’ve learnt how to use the machines, whether you want to produce one of something or several hundred, that’s fine,’ says Gloria Daniel who wants to run courses with a teacher or printer.

Unite Type's back room features three vintage letterpress machines
Unite Type identity designed by Jon Daniel

For the identity of the shop, Gloria Daniel turned to her cousin,  independent creative director Jon Daniel, who has created this marque and identity.

The shop will also sell letterpress cards, wraps and posters, vintage graphic design books and literature, and draughtsman and printer’s tools. 

Gloria Daniel, who by her own admission is relatively new to the world of typography and letterpress says, ‘There’s just something about the process and the smell of the ink which draws you to it.’

Unite Type's back room features three vintage letterpress machines
Unite Type’s back room features three vintage letterpress machines

Unite&Type will occupy 341 Portobello Road, London, W10. It is now building up a collection of wooden and metal type ahead of the opening which is expected on 29 August before an official opening in September.

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  • Anne de Haan November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    hallo
    Last spring I visited your very nice shop with my male-friend. He is English , I am Dutch. I told you that in the Netherlands I give courses in a pecial, simple, printing methode. According to the Dutch artist H. N. Werkman ( 1883-1945)
    You invited me to come to your place to give a workshop.
    I am very interested to do so.
    Ofcourse we have to discuss some matters.
    But my first question is: are you still interested???
    In the Netherlands I work in the grafic museum.
    http://www.grafischmuseum.nl
    I hope to hear from you soon,
    with friendly regards,
    Anne de Haan

  • Judith Hodgkinson December 3, 2017 at 10:44 am

    Hi this looks great. I have an Arab letterpress, treadle, and a full large cabinet of type for sale to collect from near Penzance – – would you be interested? It is a beautiful one, photos available, thanks, December 2017
    Judith

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