Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
A new range of pottery ware will shortly go on sale around the globe featuring the Arab world’s beloved Saluki following a chance conversation between a Bahrain-based shop proprietor, Linda Jennings, the owner of two happy hounds, and a company producing a range of ‘trendy’ Arabic-themed products.
The Saluki is a new design recently launched at an international arts-and-craft spring fair staged at the English city of Birmingham.
The mugs are being made at the Dunoon pottery works in nearby Stone, in Staffordshire, in fine bone china to a design created by illustrator Dave Broadhurst, who started his career as an engraving apprentice with legendary Wedgwood.
Co-ordinator Caroline Bessey, a designer at Dunoon, said the story behind the Arabia theme involved a discussion between its sales manager Irus Cymbaluk and Linda, from The Bookcase in Bahrain, about creating a new range.
“Linda, who has Saluki dogs herself, suggested that be one theme, and between them they were inspired to come up with the set-of-six also comprising of a bull, falcon, camel, elephant and gazelle.”
Dave was commissioned to produce the artwork to complement the company’s top-selling Minerva range. “These mugs and any of our designs embellished with 22-carat gold sell particularly well in the Middle East, but they are very popular worldwide as well, as Arabic patterns are very in vogue at the moment,” added Caroline.
Dave comes from Stoke-on-Trent, known as ‘The Potteries’, and was delighted to take on the assignment. He said: “My favourite dogs are sight-hounds of all their various breeds. I love their speed, grace and docile nature.
“I have had two Lurcher dogs, the first was a Greyhound/Deerhound-crossed with a Saluki. He was black and tan with tan feathering to the back of his ears, legs and tail, very similar to my ‘Saluki’ design. His name was Sukie. The second was a cross-Greyhound/Deerhound named Ben.
“I enjoy taking animals and nature and styling them into designs with flowing line-work. Each design takes me about three days to complete. The designs are then produced as litho transfers, applied to the china mugs then fired in a kiln.
“It’s a nice thought that there are people all over the world drinking out of mugs with my designs on them. It still gives me a buzz to see ceramics with my artwork on them in the shops.
“My design work is quite varied from realistic Botanic watercolours, engraved-style drawings, commemorative-ware and pattern design, to the designs such as the Arabia/Minerva range.”
Alongside novels and educational works, The Bookcase sells a range of arts, crafts and collectables. Linda said: “Dunoon mugs are extremely popular and I have had customers from Europe even buying them here to take home as we stock such a vast range in our shops.
“They are the perfect gift for every occasion and we are proud to be the agent for this family-run UK company with such an exceptionally high standard of workmanship. Every mug comes boxed and the range covers everything; hobbies, pets, special events and even the planets and the periodic table!
“The saluki mugs are being made at the factory as we speak and will be in Bahrain in a couple of months. I’m sure they will prove very popular.”
One of the current top-sellers features a stunning Arabian horse which was released on sale only last year but the Saluki is sure to give it a run for its money.
Linda believes locals and expats appreciate the breed’s elegance, speed, grace, gentleness and beauty. “And, of course, these animals love being cuddled and are very good with children too,” she added.
“I have always had dogs and since moving to the region more than 30 years ago, have always had salukis.
“I just love the breed but my current two, Deema and Sheema – whose names mean ‘rain cloud on a sunny day’ and ‘noble character’ – are the only salukis I have had from puppies – all the rest were rescue-dogs.
“They are also the only ‘four-eyed’ salukis I have had – named as such due to the colour of their eyebrows. I was fortunate in that Abdulrahman Hussain was looking for a good home for two of these fourth generation pure-bred Bahraini puppies and asked vet Dr Nonie Coutts if she knew of someone, so after several interviews I was lucky enough to be trusted with them and they came to live with me five years ago.
“I couldn’t imagine life without them – they are just such wonderful companions and I love them to bits!”
The Saluki mugs will come boxed and priced at BD10.900 before any discount.
