Dephis Jardiniere

The shape of these Delphis range jardinieres, with their pedestal base, I always think, harks back to the earlier Poole Studio shapes of the earlier 1960's from which the Delphis range was spawned. The genealogy is even more obvious when they are carved like this one.  They were made for just a couple of years from 1968 and were certainly replaced by the later plant pot shaped form by 1973. They come in 3 sizes and this one is middle sized shape 79, painted by Angela Wyburgh.

Bad Habits

During the 1930's Poole Pottery made the most sweet and innocent looking ashtrays.  Every time I see them on eBay, I'm tempted to buy one. Whether it's the little rowing boat with a central bench formed to rest your fag, or the fledgling bird with outstretched wings and tail feathers again scooped into rests for cigarettes.

This one is advertised on eBay now as a Sylvan ware ashtray designed by John Adams and again I'm sorely tempted, despite it having a small chip, but maybe I'll make do with my photoshopped image here, ripped off from the sellers listing.  I hope they don't mind, but in case they do here's the link to their eBay page.

Pick 'n' Mix

Nearly all of the "Traditional" Poole Pottery in my collection is made from the red clay that was in use at Poole from the mid-1920's up until 1934.  The pots from this period have a particular feel that is hard to describe.  There's a softness to the decoration, that seems to be bonded deeper into the body of the vase.  So this vase is just a couple of years too late for me, but I wanted it for it's unusual, strangely random pattern.  It is shape number 112, GD pattern painted by Hilda Trim between 1934 and 1937.

Scotland Envy

The increased media focus this week, on the Scotland's independence vote, has prompted me again to make an inappropriate mix of pot and politics.  I think more than anything, with the opinion polls narrowing, it's the sense of the British state mustering all of it's resources to defend the union, that makes me want to (quite ineffectually) react against it.  I'm not Scottish, and I've only been to Scotland once.  I don't have a romantic view of Scotland, and I've never seen "Braveheart", but if the Scots vote yes, I think moving north of the boarder would be a very attractive option.
I'll be taking my pots with me of course, including this sweet EQ pattern egg cup Dorothy James in the early 1930's.

A Wash and Brush-Up

When it was advertised on eBay this OR pattern spill vase was in looking pretty grubby.  Which is something that often draws me in to make a bid.  In part because I know just how well they can clean up but perhaps also because I want to make sure that the pot has a chance to shine again. The shape number is 262 and it was painted by Anne Hatchard between 1922 and '24.

Sprig

 Here's a fairly early "sprig" (FE) pattern vase made between 1922 and 1924, shape number 586 painted by Vera Bridle.