Memento Mori

Remembering that you have to die isn't as popular as it once was. But it must be a thought that crops up every now and then for most collectors, who (for each pot) are just the latest custodians in a growing line or predecessors.  This little BV pattern, Portuguese stripe, stoneware jug, I won at the Cottees' Poole Pottery auction in April last year (lot 318).  Its just 7 cm in height and shape number T323 (theT tells us that its a piece of tableware). It was made in 1921.  I don't know how it found it's way into the Cottees sale, but the sticker on the base tells us that it previously belonged to Albert E. Wade, and was sold (as part of lot. 189), along with the rest of his collection of pottery, at Sotheby's in 2002.  I'm hoping it will be quite a few years before it goes to market again.

Massive Poole

I thought this photo needed something to give a sense of scale, so I've reused the little grape pattern vase from the last post.  The main attraction though is a really quite massive VT pattern vase, shape number 515, painted by Gertie Warren in the mid 1920's.  I won it on eBay a year or so ago and, at 38 cm tall, its a couple of inches bigger than any of my other pots.