Look What Santa Left For Me

This Poole Delphis spear shaped dish was painted by Angela Wyburgh sometime in the late 1960's.  It came from the Lincoln Antiques fair this year, in the summer. A friend of mine bought it and squirrelled it away for Christmas.  Somehow I've managed to leave it under the tree for the past week without opening the box, but couldn't wait more than a few hours to post a photo of it on here.  It has great colour and texture, and it's in perfect condition with the early stubby feet on the back.  I cant remember seeing a better example. Santa must think that I've been very well behaved this year.

Unusual Blue Aegean Dish

This one looks much better in real life.  It arrived from eBay still boxed and looks like its never been taken out in 40 years.  Leaf shapes are quite common on Aegean plates but I've not seen many in this blue colour.

Delphis 10 Inch Plate painted by Pamela Bevans in 1970

Unfortunately this one came with a hairline crack from eBay.  It's a nice design though and looks good at the top of the stairs, where at least it wouldn't be the end of the world if it ended up getting knocked off it's perch. Pamela Bevans thoughtfully used 3 different marks over the 3 years (1970 to '72) that she worked at Poole.  so I guess that the first of these three, a simple pb would fall neatly into 1970. 

Poole Aegean Sweet Tray Carolyn Wills

I don't collect many Aegean pots as lots are just too dull and brown, but this one looked nice and vibrant and came in its original box too. It was Painted by Carolyn Wills between 1972 and 79.

Poole Pottery Delphis carved Vase - Anne Godfrey

This vase is shape number 84, is a good 9 inches tall, and about half the height and a fraction of the cost of the very collectable shape number 85's.  This was painted by Anne Godfrey and caries her earliest bark.  I think it dates to about 1967.

Cracking Jean Millership Pin Dish

As soon as I saw this on eBay I was determined to win it.  Jean Millership did some really striking no. 49 pin dishes.  There's only 5 inches to play with, so they work really well with simple bold patterns like this. 

Poole Delphis 8 inch plate - Christine Tate

Christine Tate was supervisor of the Delphis section at Poole when she painted this plate between 1966 and 1970.  I found this on eBay a month or so ago.

Lidded Powder Bowl 688 QO

This pot in the same QO pattern as below.  At 6 inches across, it doesn't follow my plan of collecting only small pots in these geometric patterns, but it is pretty fully covered in pattern and the shape is very nice.   It came in the post just before the snow came down this winter.  There are another half dozen eBay pots wending they're way to me at the moment, but it's not too clear when they'll arrive.  Hopefully by Spring.

Tiny Shape 882 QO Pattern Vase

The snow kept me and my mate away from the Lincolnshire Show Ground Antiques Fair today.  But here's another little geometric pattern vase to add to my collection which came to me from eBay earlier this month.  It was painted by Iris Skinner in the late 1920's or early 30's.

The trick with these pots, I think, is to find really small ones, which maximises the amount of pattern, and means you can house a large number in a small area.  The QO pattern is quite common I think but still very attractive and just about looks it's best in this shape pot.  There is a yellow and black variant that I still need to find.

Early Delphis Bowl Margaret Anderson

This little bowl has no shape number, it's just 5inches in diameter and was painted by Margaret Anderson in about 1966.  It has the (blue) Poole dolphin mark which was introduced in that year.

Oven-to-tableware Egg Baker

Mmmm baked egg, and what stylish kitchen could be without one of these Robert Jefferson designed egg bakers.  I'm not sure how useful they might be and maybe that's how this one survived with its box and Poole cookery book full of recipes you could make using your oven-to-tableware.  This was hiding on eBay last week.

Back to the Really Exciting Stuff 205 UE

This five and a half inch spill vase is about as exciting as they come.  When I saw it on ebay i thought i'd died and gone to Art Deco heaven.  I love this kaleidoscopic pattern, that looks like its been lifted straight form a Robert or Sonia Delaunay painting.  You probably can measure how sexy a Truda Carter pattern is by the amount of black (and maybe grey) glaze used - and this vase has loads.

Shapely Twintone Contour Cruet

Back down to with with this one, which is a little more everyday than the last few posts.  The shape was designed by Robert Jefferson, as the cruet for the Contour range of tableware that that he introduced in 1959 as a replacement for Streamline.  The Twintone colours are C104 Sky Blue and Dove Grey, which were used from 1958 right up until 1981.  I found them on eBay last month and nice though the set is, it was quickly photographed for the website and then hidden away in a box under then bed.

Shirley Campbell Delphis Plate No.3

There are some spectacular Poole pots on eBay at the moment.  This one came from there last week.  It has a blue dolphin stamp which dates it to 1966 or 67 I think.  It's painted by Shirley Campbell, or possibly Geraldine O'Meara, as they used the same ||| mark.  And it couldn't have come out of the kiln any better.  The photo doesnt do it justice, the colour, texture, everything about it, is perfect, and it's the best plate in my collection, so far.

Art Deco Elephant Bookend

This chunky bookend was designed by Harold Brownsword during the 1920's  

Poole Pottery Art Deco Vase 921 CG

I've wanted one in this pattern for ages now.  Apart from the angular jazzy designs, what I really love about Art Deco are the wider cultural influences that feed it.  The enthusiasm at the time for the art and architecture of Ancient Egypt can be seen clearly in this vase, as with many Art Deco designs by Truda Carter.

The vase is just 8 cm tall and is painted by Winifred Collett who worked at Poole from 1922 until 1936.

Green Delphis Plates, No. 4

These two came together from eBay a while ago now.  They were one of those nice surprises that look even better in the flesh when they arrive.  Both are in shiny factory fresh condition.  Dave from the early 1970, the left one painted by Anita Lawrence, the right by Cynthia Bennett.  The only trouble is I really don't have enough room and both were heading for the boxes under the bed so have decided to list the Anita Lawrence this week and Cynthia Bennett is likely to follow soon.

Geometric Pattern Vase SP 584

I found this one on eBay a few weeks ago now, but not its taken a while to get it posted on here.  It's a lovely shape and size, just  just 8 cm tall, shape number 584, SP pattern painted by Hilda Trimm between 1926 and 1934.  It's also helped prompt me to update the Art Deco Galleries on the main site. The link to there is on the right.

Poole Delphis Sweet Dish No 81 - Sarah Worrell

I listed this on on eBay tonight.  It's typical of Sarah Worrell designs from the year that she worked at Poole Pottery  - 1970.

Portuguese Stripe Vase

Ruth Pavely painted this one between 1922 and 24, so not long after she started at Poole.  The vase is made form a dark red earthenware, with a grey coloured slip, which was used between these dates.  The clay feels like its been fired at a slightly higher temperature than the pots made after 1924.  Anyway the Portuguese stripe patterns (this one if JU) were originally done by James Radley Young, usually in blue and white, and adapted at this time by Truda Adams.

Little Bird

This little wren-like bird (FB pattern) is painted on the side of a 9.5 cm tall,  red bodied, spill vase shape number 586.  These (simple) sprig decorations are usually all floral so the bird perched on a few flowers makes a nice change.  It's signed, I think by Margaret Holder, with the mark she used until 1927, and arrived from eBay this week.

Twintone C100

Twintone Streamline egg cups Peach Bloom and Mist Blue (C100) colour combo, in production from 1953 to 1954.

Like Blackpoole Iluminations

Getting away from the lost in space theme of the blog, this is a little perfect corner of my Delphis display cabinet - the ones that have avoided going under the bed.   Set off nicely by the blue-green toblerone shop display sign I got from eBay last week.  Small and monochrome is clearly the way to go if you need to stand out there.

Poole Pottery Art Deco Geometric Pattern Bowl 377 DD

This was the final pot I found at Newark last month. Its shape number 377, two and a half inches tall, and pattern DD painted by Doris Marshall who worked at Poole between 1926 and 1936.

Poole Delphis Carved Jardinière

I was well pleased with this eBay find from last month.  It's the first shape number 92 in my collection.  It has a great period look of the late 1960's and is signed and perfectly executed by Christine Tate .

Something for Everyone

More eBay sales for next week.  I've decided to limit myself to just one example of each pattern in these little geometric pots so first up is this one. Early EO pattern jug, shape number 324.

HUL "Rope" pattern freeform pot shape number 650 

Delphis sweet dish  shape number 81 Jean Millership

Delphis 49er Patricia Wells

I really mean to slow down on collecting  these, but then little gems like this one keep popping up. Shape number 49 pin dish 5 inches diameter painted by Patricia Wells about 1966 or '67

GV Pattern Jug

Maybe I don't get out enough, but I've never seen this pattern before. It's GV pattern and similar to the more usual OR paisley type pattern of which there's some on the website, but this ones just a bit more fancy.  The jug is shape number 294, it's just over 6 inches tall, and come from eBay.

More eBay Listings

I'm sorry to see both of these go, but I just don't have the room to display them.  Top is a "Grapes" pattern Bowl  566/TR, the pattern designed by Erna Manners in 1921, this bowl was painted by 

Dorothy James between 1924 and 1934.  The Jug 310/ED is 15cm tall, and was painted by Gwen Dry between 1928 and 1934.

A Whopper Delphis Jardinière

I didn't realise these were so big.    The photo doesn't do it justice, I should have stuck a a baked bean can next to it for comparison.  It's shape number 80 and measures 8 1/2 inches by 9 inches - the next size down (there are 3 sizes) shape number 79 is only 5 1/2 inches tall.  It seems with pots a few extra inches makes a lot of difference. 

Anyway, I found it on one of the outdoor stands at Newark last week.  The stall holder a had a lot of Poole Delphis plates for sale and this Jardinière didn't fit, so he suggested we did a swap for a Delphis plate I'd brought an hour earlier.

The pot was hand thrown and carved, and then painted by Christine Tate in the late 1960's.

Poole Pottery Art Deco Vase 575 CO

I found this vase at the Newark on Friday this week.  It's in top condition and a nice size at 7 1/2 inches - Shape number 575 CO pattern.  This pattern was on one of the first traditional pots I bought, but I was a bit more cautious then with my spending so that one was from auction and was cracked and chipped.  I loved it any way though but then over time I think I got a bit bored of the pattern.  So I ummed and ahhed for a while, and worked around the whole of the show ground, before coming back to buy this one, but now its back home its like falling in love again! 

Poole Harbour Brownsea Castle Peacock

This is a funion.  I've not seen one before.  It's a screen Printed and hand coloured dish from the early 1960's.  It has the 1959-67 stamp with Brownsea Castle marked also.  

I went to Brownsea Island by ferry from Poole harbour a couple of years ago to see red squirrels.  Saw one squirrel and lots of wading birds, but don't remember seeing peacocks.  Anyway they must have been there in the 60's.  Another from Ebay last week.

Traditional Poole from Doncaster Racecourse Antiques Fair

This matched pair of egg cups came from the antiques fair at Doncaster this summer, as did the jug below. The egg cups are shape number 713 and the pattern is RE.  They were made several years apart, are by different painters, sightly different sizes and one was cracked.  So I didn't feel guilty about splitting them and selling the cracked one.

The Jug is shape number 304 (5 inches tall) and is painted in the relatively uncommon HQ pattern by Nellie Bishton.

More Art Deco Poole for sale on eBay

Only the little cream jug is up for sale this week.  Its shape 317 and EE pattern painted by Rene Hayes between 1926 and 1934.

Freeform Butter/Cheese dish UFT Pattern

This is the last and cheapest find from Keddleston Hall last month.  I think, if I was more sophisticated I wouldn't be so drawn to these patterns.  I think, what excites the real purists is the big asymmetrical freeform shaped vases from this era, that have no decoration, or else have the smoky stripy decorations designed by John Read.  Whereas what I get off on, is the domestic, kitchen stuff, with patterns designed by Ruth Pavely - they transport me  straight into a decade that I've never known, and maybe wouldn't have liked, but are just so stylish.

Poole Pottery Geometric Jug 304 ME

This one came from eBay.  It's a bit bigger - 5" tall - than most of the geometric Pattern pots that I'm collecting, but I don't think this pattern would fit on anything smaller and its got a lovely shape too.  It was painted by Marjorie Cryer between 1927 and 1934.

Poole Pottery Geometric Bowl 971 WL

This is the second pot that I found at Keddleston Hall earlier this month.  The bowl is just 4" in diameter, and is shape no. 971, which I haven't seen much before.  The pattern is WL, and was painted by Phyllis Way between 1928 and 34. It fits the shape beautifully, with the tassels at the end of the purple fringe hanging just level with where the shape cuts away to the foot.

Poole Pottery Postcards

I found these two postcards on eBay last week.  Hand written on the back of both is "Went over these works while on holiday August 1936". So I think both are earlier images than the postcards that are reproduced in the Hayward and Atterbury book.  Guessing at who the people might be - the middle woman to me looks like Eileen Prangnell pictured on page 45 of the Hayward and Atterbury book.  The Potter I guess could be Burt Way who was the only male pottery at the factory in 1930 when Guy Sydenham started aged 14.  

I'd be very grateful for any better ideas.

Freeform Bowls - More eBay Sales

It's not easy parting.  I thought I could manage without these two, as I don't really collect Freeform Poole - that much and they were in a box under the spare bed. But then once you've fished them out, had a good look at them again, photographed them, you then realise why you brought them in the first place.  I think they look stunning, but they have to go.

Poole Pottery Comic Bird Vase

This was the pot that got me most excited last weekend at Keddleston Hall, and I'm still feeling a bit giddy even now.  I have paid more for pots in the past, but at just 3 1/2 inches tall, pound of pound this is certainly the most costly vase in my collection to date, and has kept up the pressure on me to sell a few more pots on eBay.  

The Pattern name is QB often called "Comic Bird" due to the slightly sparkled looking bird. The design also has two great "bug eye" flower shapes  popping out at the bottom.  Shape number 361, painted by Gwen Dry beween 1928 and '34.

More pots will have to go

This little round vase started my week off work.  It fits in with my growing collection of  no. 354 shape vases, and this PD pattern is really quite rare.  The muted colours have a real richness and the blue leaves over painted with yellow almost look like gold.  

One part of my grand plan for collecting, is to buy fewer, rarer, more expensive pots.  I'm managing the rarer part but fewer is more difficult.  And my week has ended, as costly as it begun, with a trip to the antiques fair at Keddleston Hall, but I'll post some photos of pots from there another time.  

So Much for Slimming Down!

I've had the week off work which has given me far too much time to hunt out interesting bits of Poole.  This one I found today at the Emporium Antiques Centre in Sheffield.  This Carved Bowl is about as big as they come.  Shape number 89 it's one foot in diameter and 4 inches deep, looks like new and has Pamela Bevan's 1970 mark. There's another half dozen pots I've got this week that I'll post but I was excited enough by this one to get it on here right away.  My plans for making a bit of space are in ruins.

Some Pots I'm Listing on eBay

I've been adding so many pots to my collection this year that there's no room left for more.  So I've had a ruthless sort through and come up with some I can list on eBay.  The two below I'm listing later today together with an art deco Vase in VL pattern, and a couple of egg cups (I don't think I've dome much space creation in listing those but it's a start)

Shape number 255. Measures 6.5cm (2 ½ inches) tall, 14 cm (5 ½ inches) in diameter.  QO Pattern painted by Marjorie Batt

Poole Pottery Delphis Pin Dish No. 81 Jean Millership