Rob's Poole Pottery Blog

Chinese Blue glazed vase

2012-02-01T13:33:00.001-08:00

Decidedly green in colour, with a gorgeous mauve interior, this is the second vase I have in these Chinese Blue glazes that John Adams developed in the mid-1920's. The high fired red earthenware body, curvaceous form and thick shiny glaze make for a very tactile vase.

Corfe Castle Regicide

2012-01-29T02:19:00.001-08:00

This 8 inch diameter screen printed plate marks the one-thousandth anniversary of the Martyrdom of Edward, king of England at Corfe Castle on 18 March 978. Which, on my fingers, adds up to it been made in 1978. It comes with a certificate signed by the chairman of the Saint Edward Millennium committee, and is numbered 704 out of 1000 made.

Here's the Wikipedia entry for Edward the Martyr

Unglazed geometric pattern jug

2012-01-27T05:49:00.001-08:00

Here's a bit of retro design that came to me from eBay earlier this month. These unglazed patterns (this one YX), designed by Truda Carter, date from the early 1920's, but were based on earlier designs by James Radley Young, who inturn was said to have been inspired by more ancient Roman pottery that had been dug up in the local area. The jug has quite a nice feel to it, very thinly thrown for the size of the pot (this one about 6 inches tall) and quite a hard metallic "ring". With no shiny glaze to protect them these pots can get quite grubby, but they do wash up really well, I think quite safely, as the body is fired at a high enough temperature to make it quite impervious to water and stains.

The jug can now keep this vase company.

Another mustard pot

2012-01-24T09:14:00.001-08:00

You can never have too many of these tiny little 2 inch mustard pots. This one was painted in QO pattern by Ethel Barrett between 1925 and '27. I don't know whether these would have been sold sepately, or as part of a cruet set originally, but it was for sale alone on eBay last week, so maybe has just outlived its companions.

Iowa spill vase

2012-01-22T04:20:00.001-08:00

Same shape 586 as the previous post, this one is painted in LD pattern by Iris Skinner sometime between 1928 when she started working at Poole and 1934 when the pottery stopped using red clay.

There's been a run of these little pots on eBay this month and I've managed to catch quite a few of them. This one had made it all the way to Iowa. There's a fair amount of transatlantic trade in Poole Pottery. Some of my favourite pots have spent most of their lives in the US and Canada and there's a extra feeling of satisfaction in bringing them back to blighty.

Finally joining the 21st Century?

2012-01-20T07:15:00.000-08:00

Reluctantly, after the old PC blow-up earlier this month, I've been forced into dumping my old photo editing software. Given away free in a magazine sometime in the mid 1990's, it's had a hand in improving most of the photos I've taken since: Cropping, adjusting the brightness, cleaning up the background, and almost always leveling the horizons (I've ever managed to hold a camera straight). Anyway, my new PC is running on something other than Windows 3.1 and with this new version, apparently, my last last century software is incompatible! So above is my first effort, with the new software. Which I think looks no different to all the other photos I've posted - so much for progress.

The vase, that arrived from eBay this year, really couldn't be improved upon. Shape number 586, 3 1/2 inches tall, painted in the lovely KZ pattern by Phyllis Way who worked at Poole from 1928 until 1934.

I've read recently (in a book) that the first pottery was made about 16,500 years ago. I'm sure a lot of the first ones were a bit dodgy, but by the 1920's I think Poole Pottery had really cracked it and in my eyes nothing since has bettered it.

Big old bowl

2012-01-17T15:15:00.000-08:00

This bowl is quite a bit bigger than most of the geometric pattern pots that I've collected over the years and, at 22 cm across, bigger than i'd like really. Relatively plain but large pots are quite hard to display and this one might at some point end up like so many others under a bed. And that would be a shame as its quite unusual I think. The pattern is FY and was painted by Ethel Barrett who worked at Poole from 1922 until 1927, so its quite early and is made from a grey (almost pink) stoneware that was used before the standard red body was introduced. Anyway, i found the bowl on eBay last December,so its high time i posted it here.

Early Poole Stoneware Vase

2012-01-13T12:59:00.000-08:00

I won this vase on eBay before Christmas, so I'm pleased to be giving it an outing now. It's an early one made from a grey stoneware which dates to 1921 or 1922, and it has the first Carter, Stabler, Adams stamp on the base. The shape is D210, with very curvy shoulders, that are repeated in later vases like the one in the previous post. It's decorated in a lovely simple AH pattern and was painted by Anne Hatchard who began working at Poole in 1918.

A bird in the hand......

2012-01-10T16:20:00.000-08:00

Despite still been without a pc I've finally managed to get the third of my 3 Poole birds uploaded to share on here.
Anyway, it's probably my favorite of the three. It's shape 208, QB pattern painted by Nellie Bishton between 1927 and 1934. The pattern is also called "Comic Bird", which refers to the slightly George W Bush expression that the bird has.

One too many posts

2012-01-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

I would have been posting a photo of a fantastic Comic Bird pattern Poole vase I found at an auction recently, but today my PC exploded. Well not quite, but there was a very strong smell of electrical burning just before I pulled the plug. Maybe it was to be expected as it had been grumbling through my enless eBay scrolling for quite a while now. Poor thing, it's been a constant companion and workhorse from the very first post on here. Determined as I am, it's not pulled the plug on my blogging, but it has stopped me uploading any new images. So hope to share photos of the comic bird vase before too long.

Two Swallows Don't Make a Summer, or Spring

2012-01-02T01:15:00.000-08:00

Here's another surprisingly animated little bird that I found on eBay last month. The SN pattern was painted by Marian Heath in the early 1930's on this six inch tall biscuit jar (shape 230). It has it's original wicker handle, and later hairline cracks and a matched lid.

A New Year Resurrection

2011-12-30T01:05:00.000-08:00

This jam pot (260/AS) has featured on my blog three times now. Once when brought from eBay, again when sold on eBay and now in the collection afterlife (they never really leave), complete with lid that was patiently waiting to be reunited . It's not just a matter of finding any excuse to post a photo again, but I realised, before dispatching it, that I ought to get a photo of it looking complete (minus the wicker handle), with a matched EE pattern Jam pot lid. And if does tie in nicely with the post below.

So with some regret it's the last post for this AS bird and 2011.

Happy New Year

A Break with Tradition

2011-12-27T00:35:00.000-08:00

Slavishly following tradition, we're off to the sales later, braving the crowds. But will have a nice mug of something hot to look forward to when we get back, served in my new Poole mugs.

They were made, pretty recently, in a factory somewhere other than Poole (There's only a very limited production of more hand crafted pots in the town these days). And there isn't much about these mugs that says "Poole" to me, other than the name on the base. Being porcelain they're very practical. I'm sure they will never craze, or crack, though the decoration might not be dish washer safe, and they must have been cheep to make, and cheep for me to buy too for that matter. So I can comfortably use them (on high days and holidays), and of course what I do like is the nostalgic reminder of Poole's Heyday.

Marked "Heritage Collection" and "Inspired by the Poole Pottery Archive" on the left is "Song Bird" based on the Art Deco AS Pattern designed by Truda Carter in the 1930's, and on the right "Corn Flower" is based on the YCS pattern designed by Alfred Read in 1953.

Delphis is not just for Christmas

2011-12-22T15:29:00.000-08:00

This festive little bauble arrived from eBay a couple of weeks ago, and seems just about the most suitable pot I have for a final post before Christmas.

Anyway, Angela Wyburgh painted this shape 49 Delphis pin dish in 1968. She did a lot of symetrical flowery patterns, but this one has a bit more umph about it, a little more explosive and space-age and reminds me more of orbiting electrons than wandering stars. But, it'll do for the top of the tree and helpfully will keep shining long after the festivities are over.

All my birthdays at once

2011-12-21T15:08:00.000-08:00

This is just part of a coffee set given to me by a friend, who wakes up early enough on a Sunday to find car boot treasures, and who's kind enough to give this one to me. The whole set has cups, saucers and side plates too.

This "Contour" tableware designed by Robert Jefferson in 1963/64 was a development on the earlier "Streamline" shapes that John Adams designed in the 1930's, and still used the "Twintone" glazes (in this case C57 - Ice green and Seagull). However they have a much more modern and sculptural look with the elongated spout and the ergonomic handle shapes being particularly pleasing.

Alternatives to these velum Twintone glazes were latter made available in the form of shiny "Cameo" two colour glazes and several different printed patterns.

Birthday Pots

2011-12-19T08:29:00.000-08:00

Here's the first of two Poole Pottery birthdays presents I've been given this year. This one came as part of a weekend away to Chipping Camden. I spotted it in Stuart House Antiques on the High Street and being my birthday my partner went and brought it for me. So I'm feeling very lucky to own this lovely SP pattern spill vase (shape 205), painted by Margorie Cryer between 1927 and 1934.

Coincidently the last time we were in Chipping Campden I found this Poole spill vase in the same shop.

Poole Pottery Seagull

2011-12-15T13:07:00.000-08:00

I thought this seagull would be mobbed on the Poole Pottery Pages of eBay last week, but it flew into my collection with hardly any feathers flying. At 27 cm from claw to wing tip, this shape number 816/3 is the largest of 3 seagull wall plaques Poole produced. The birds were designed and modelled by John Adams and Harry Brown in the mid 1930s and sprayed in new Picottee glazes. I think, this particular bird dates from the late 1940's.

Up close the bird is much bigger and more 3-dimensional than I expected, and is certainly big enough to worry anyone of a nervous disposition. So if you didn't fancy seagulls on your wall, and prefer to eat your fish and chips in peace, you could also choose flying ducks or better still bluebirds.

Not quite so alike as two peas in a pod

2011-12-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

The gorgeous pot on the right came from eBay last week to join it's rarer greener twin. Of the two, If I'm completely honest I prefer the full colour version, but also love seeing the two side by side. More about the Green one here on this post from April, and the new vase is the same shape number 122 and TY pattern painted by Ruth Gough between 1927 and 34.

Star Vase

2011-12-09T07:07:00.000-08:00

I had to save up to buy this vase from a fellow collector. It's made from red earthenware and has an impressed hexagonal trial mark. It's also is a little bit famous, as a photo of this very vase appears on page 69 of Robert Prescott-Walker's "Collecting Poole Pottery", and now it has a staring role in my own collection. Shape Number 440 (5 1/2 inches tall), PI pattern painted by Clarice Heath between 1929 and 1934. PI is a rare pattern that works beautifully with this shape and has the advantage or offering a great view from above.

Hiking Bear

2011-12-07T12:13:00.000-08:00

Now this bear isn't even Poole, though it continues in an animal theme. Its a "Black Forest" Swiss carving from the early 20th Century, I think, that I found on eBay last week. I tend to keep an eye out for these when I'm wondering through antiques fairs looking for Poole Pottery. I thought this one was particularly nice with its rucksack and walking staff. I just need to find a match box of the right size for him to carry.

Whoa boy

2011-12-04T15:11:00.000-08:00

This pot looks like its trotted straight out of a Franz Mark painting. I don't often rustle other peoples images, and I don't often get giddy over figurines, but this but this little Poole Pottery pony, currently on eBay, has me seriously champing at the bit. And going by the current asking price, one of us punters will certainly lose our shirt.

NP Pattern Art Deco Vase

2011-12-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

This is the most recent eBay arrival. It was painted by Marjorie Cryer sometime between 1934 and '37. It's not quite as old as I like them to be, but it has a very satisfying shape (no.113, 5" tall) and relatively unusual pattern.

Poole Studio Bowl

2011-11-28T14:10:00.000-08:00

This is a Poole Studio bowl made sometime between 1964 and 1966, it has a shape that reminds me of some of the more impressive Studio vases but a price tag that is much more affordable. I've posted this one on eBay also this week.

Poole Cucumbers

2011-11-27T11:23:00.000-08:00

This old John Adams shape was brought bang up to date in the 1950's with a series of Ruth Pavely designed patterns, two examples ROC (top) and TNC are here. Going generally against the general trend of recent years, I've been gradually selling off my Poole Pots from this period as I've started to focus more on Art Deco pots, but I resisted selling these for a long time because I loved their smoky colours. But the time has come for the top one at least which is now up for sale on eBay.

Margaret Anderson 49er

2011-11-26T06:44:00.000-08:00

Hears another 5 inch pin dish shape number 49 painted by Margaret Anderson between 1966 ans 67. Now added to my updated 49er gallery

Cottees Catch Lot no 78

2011-11-25T03:36:00.000-08:00

This vase came fresh from Cottees auctioneers most recent Poole Pottery sale, and it's the last of the three vases that got me all excited last week. I love the subtle colours and the stylised flowers that look as much like cogwheels in a clocks workings. I also really like the spill vase shape, that has the added advantage of making very economical use of shelf space. GF/546 painted by Nellie Bishton, a vase that's both poetic and practical all in one post.

Rare Old Bird

2011-11-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

I've had this pot for a year or so but not posted it until now as I was waiting to match it up with a lid first. I still haven't managed that, so now have decided to return it to eBay and give it a final showing before it goes. Shape number 260 it's just 3 inches tall (7.5 cm) and the pattern AS was painted by Gwen Dry who painted pots at Poole between 1928 and 1935.

CR pattern Vase

2011-11-19T08:33:00.000-08:00

I was reluctant to knock the last pot off the top of my blog so quickly, but I couldn't wait to post a photo of this pot either. The second result of my recent spending spree, this time one from eBay. It stands six inches tall, and the shape (no 976) is similar in shape to this wider and more common 974/CR vase, but then it flares out at the top. It has an hexagonal trial mark and was painted by Vera Bridle who worked at Poole between 1923 and '33.

First of Three New Arrivals

2011-11-18T03:55:00.000-08:00

The weekend started early for me with a call from the postie at 7am, and as soon as the light improved I was snapping shots of this new arrival. I found a photo of this one on-line shared by the owner along with many more impressive pots, and he agreed to sell it to me. The pattern (BY) is one of my absolute favourites and the shape (354) is the perfect fit for my collection and it'll sit proudly alongside my other small round vases. the vase is 8.5 cm tall and was pointed by Rene Hayes between 1926 and '34.

Another Egg Baker

2011-11-15T14:22:00.000-08:00

The first of my more expensive than usual Poole pots arrived today fresh from eBay, and what a stunner it is, but at this time of year a photo will have to wait until the weekend, when I can be at home in daylight.

In the mean time here's a photo of a very inexpensive pot. Another egg baker to add to my collection of Robert Jefferson designed Oven-to-Tableware in the jolly yellow coloured Herb Garden range from 1963, this one with a silkscreen printed decoration titled Caraway. More in the range can be seen here and the very eggy patterned "Lucullus" egg baker here.

PRB Pattern Vase

2011-11-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

This has been an expensive week for me, the Poole Pottery results of which are all in various stages of transit and will be posted on here when they arrive. But in the world of Poole ruthless decisions have to be made and this Alfred Read designed Freeform vase faces the chop eBay. It doesn't seem five minutes that I was proudly showing if off on an earlier blog post.

Curious Chinese Green Glaze Vase

2011-11-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

This vase is a revival of earlier heavily glazed green and blue pots designed by John Adams, an example of which can be seen here. It carries the 1952-55 "hand made, hand decorated" Poole factory mark and a stamped shape number 676. Standing 5 inches tall it's made from a high fired red earthenware body similar to that used for the 1920's pieces. The mottled green glaze covers the inside of the vase also and contrast nicely with the red rim. Any more information would be very welcome.

Delphis Vase painted by Andree Fontana

2011-11-06T23:47:00.000-08:00

This vase has been in my collection for about 6 months now. It was painted by Andree Fontana who worked at Poole from 1973 to 1979. I love the shape of these vases, but they do take up a lot of space for their size, so I've decided this one needs to go to make room for others.

Delphis shape 81 Shirley Campbell

2011-11-04T04:27:00.000-07:00

Here's another eBay disappointment that arrived last month and I've now hidden it away somewhere to forget, but still it would be a shame not to post a photo of what looks like a great Delphis sweet dish.

Until recently I'm sure this was a perfect plate, but having passed through the post it had 2 or 3 brand new hairline cracks when it arrived with me, basically from been packed too tightly in too small a box. With so much Poole Pottery changing hands on eBay I often wonder how much more rare perfect examples will become as the get broken a few at a time in the post.

Early Stoneware Lidded Pot FE T293

2011-11-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

This one I'm not so sure about. I got it from eBay earlier this year. At the time it was clear that the lid and base didn't have matching decoration but once it arrived I began to doubt that the lid is even made by Poole. It's made out of a very similar yellowish grey stoneware but it's more heavily thrown even than the bowl and it looks even more rustic in appearance with the inside feeling more like its been carved and modelled rather than turned as the base of the bowl is. The bowl was made between 1921 and 22, and the lid, if it is Poole, belongs to an even earlier and I guess long broken pot.

Poole Pottery Art Deco CE 341

2011-10-30T00:52:00.000-07:00

This vase came from eBay at the start of the month. It was painted either by Grace Burge in the late 1920s or Marian Jones in the early 1930's they both used an X mark. The 341 shape is a rounder version of the 361 shape and the same pattern is used with different colouring more commonly for the FK pattern. I don't know if all that has any significance.

Dorset Constabulary

2011-10-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

The back of the plate reads "Replica of the Commemorative Plaque presented to Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh by Dorset Police on 23rd March, 1979"

The one on display (I should hope) in Buckingham Palace was hand painted by Pat Summers, the one above is transfer printed and was made in limited numbers to be shared amongst Dorset's Finest.

I really like the ?disproportionate focus on sheep rustling and the celebration of the very high-tech looking desk. I don't think the back office functions of Dorset Police would feature quite so prominently if the plate was made today.

Freeform Vase PV 550

2011-10-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

This freeform vase shape number 350 is painted in PV or "burst" pattern and came from ebay last month.

Just Like Hubble?

2011-10-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

At the start of the summer my old camera died, and it's taken until now to finally get the best out of the new one. I took theses photos as part of an update for my website. I thought the Delphis pages were looking a bit tired, and I was also starting to think that I was getting tired of Delphis. But these photos have made me change my mind and realise what first drew me to collecting theses beautiful pots. I couldn't wait to share them here.

From the top down they're painted by: Jean Millership, Pamela Bevans and Patricia Wells. All painted within a couple of years of each other, between1967 and 1970. Each a little galaxy of colour, 30 odd years before the humble space telescope and my camera finally got focused.

Bokhara Butter Box Bingo

2011-10-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

My latest Bokhara jar, shape number 658, OHB pattern painted by Gwen Haskins has taken it's place alongside my other pots from this range. With 2 lines so far, it will be a long game before I get a full house - See what I mean here

Making room

2011-10-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

As much as i love the no 49 Delphis pin dishes I cant buy new ones without making a bit of space so there are 3 here that are going on eBay. The top one is painted by Carol Cutler, in the middle Lynn Gregory and lastly Patricia Wells.

Click here to bid

Gorgeous Delphis 49

2011-10-14T13:59:00.000-07:00

I thought I had enough of these little 5" round pin dishes, but then I saw this one languishing on eBay in Alberta, Canada and had to help it back to my collection. It was painted by Patricia Wells and has a blue dolphin mark that dates it to about 1966 or '67.

My Second Newark Pot

2011-10-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

This little vase is shape number 684, and the pattern is QO painted by Phyllis Allen between 1928 and 1934. I'm trying to be more selective in the pots I'm buying, but with these little geometric patterned pots I think I'll still collect all that I can. It's always a treat to find them at fairs and in such lovely condition too.

And the winner is - Newark

2011-10-08T04:20:00.000-07:00

My latests trophy collected yesterday, one of two lovely Deco vases I found at the Newark Antiques Fair. I've been after a vase of this shape (no 461, 5" tall) with it's twin handles for a long time and its a definite bonus to find one in this QD pattern, with both of those fragile little lugs intact. Painted by Clarice Health it dates from between 1929 and 1934.

Swinderby Pin Dish

2011-10-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

This 5 inch Delphis pin dish, painted by Margaret Anderson at the end of the 1960's, was the only pot I came away with from the Swinderby fair this week. Maybe all the best stuff was sold on the first day. Anyway, wish cash still in my pocket maybe I'll have better luck at the Newark fair on Friday.

Early Stoneware Vase EP D353

2011-10-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

Quite often I'll bid for pots on eBay and wont be too bothered if I win them or not, but I'd have been kicking myself, if I'd been outbid on this one . It was made in 1921 and so is quite a few years earlier in date than most of the vases on this blog. It's made from a grey semi-stoneware, has an unglazed base and carries the first Carter Stabler Adams factory mark. There's an unusual shape number D353 and a painters mark I don't recognise (any ideas would be much appreciated).

V and LT shape no 117

2011-09-30T15:17:00.000-07:00

I won these little (9cm tall) vases on eBay at the start of the summer. I've got another couple of patterns in the same shape too. It's a nice collectable shape, because it's small and easy to display lots of them together. But there's a dilemma: Do I collect more pots in this shape - as many different patterns in the same shape as I can? or are there other shapes I'd prefer? It's all very confusing! And I'm worried that the only answer is to collect them all, every pattern in every shape that I can find!

It maybe that lots of things that people collect have the same bewildering range of variations. These "Traditional" Poole vases were only made over a 10 year period, or there abouts, between 1924 and '34, in a small factory employing about 4 throwers and 20 or so painters, and 70 years on, after 5 years of collecting, I'm still seeing shapes and patterns that I've never seen before. I rarely see the same pot (shape/pattern combination) twice and I'm sure there must be so many that I'll never see.

Poole Pottery Cheese Box 978/OG

2011-09-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

Poole made a whole range of different lidded and domed pots. Shape number 978 here is described in the Hayward and Atterbury book as a cheese box. The lid is only 5 inches in diameter, and looks like it would hold little more than a "baby-bel", but maybe a small Camembert could be squeezed in. The pattern is OG and it was painted by Hilda Hampton in the early 1930's and was sold to me at the Bakewell Antiques Fair this summer.

Mary Albon Pin Dish

2011-09-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

It's a while since I bought any Delphis pots and I've had this shape no. 49 pin dish for a good few months now, so its high time I posted a photo. This one was painted by Mary Albon between 1970 and 1972. I had a similar yellow dish that I sold on eBay a few years ago, which was bought by Mary Albon herself. Which is when she told me that the dates she is listed as working on Delphis in the Hayward and Atterbury book (1972-74) are in fact out by 2 years.

Robert Jefferson Mermaid Tray 1964

2011-09-16T01:09:00.000-07:00

My collection of these Robert Jefferson trays is getting bigger slowly. There are two others on the blog for anyone who's interested in searching under the tag for Robert Jefferson, and there are a couple of birds and a fish tray and plaque made about the same time. Unfortunately these are the ones I really want, so I'll just have to keep searching.

EJ Pattern Vase

2011-09-11T01:26:00.000-07:00

I've been away on holiday for a couple of weeks, which put a hold on collecting for a while (though I did look in a couple of antique shops while away). but this vase arrived from eBay a week or so before we set off. There are a few Poole patterns in this predominantly yellow, beige and purple palette which are quite densely decorated. This one is EJ pattern, the shape is 424 and it was painted by Marian Heath in the early 1930's.

Trading-up ever so slightly

2011-08-26T23:54:00.000-07:00

This 9cm vase is shape number 361 and is JV pattern painted by Ruth Gough, I would say, in 1934. It's almost identical to a vase I already have that can be seen here, though the shape (no. 136) is very slightly more narrow, and crucially this new vase is a whole year earlier in date. Which, for me anyway, makes if a whole lot nicer as it's made out of the red earthenware clay Poole stopped using in 1934.

MK pattern vase

2011-08-26T03:57:00.000-07:00

This little vase 10cm tall vase in MK pattern came from eBay a month or so ago. It's a pattern I've not seen until now, and was painted by Marian Heath in the early 1930's. The a band of repeated "sprigs" of flowers, I could imagine could have also have been used singly on some pots.

Tiny Mustard Pot - Shape 276

2011-08-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

Photos sometimes give no sense of scale. This mustard pot is under three inches tall, so it's a great size for this little geometric pattern (VL) that just about covers the whole surface. I found it on eBay earlier this month. Sadly there's a big hairline crack running almost from the rim to the base, but at least that meant it wasn't expensive at just 99 pence.

Aegean Oakleaf

2011-08-19T02:40:00.000-07:00

I like Aegean plates best with a dark black/brown and good contrast colourful (not brown) pattern. Which means I don't find very many Aegean pots to collect. Anyway Poole did quite a few of these leaf patterns which I think were made using a sgaffito technique, scratching off the dark glaze to reveal the yellow underneath. This one was decorated by Diana Davis and came to me via the Lincoln Antiques Fair.

Poole Pottery Candle Holder

2011-08-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

This eBay purchase is another departure for me, but I've been eyeing up candle holders like this for a while. There's one for a single candle with a shell-like scroll shape, that I hoped to find first, but ended up with this double version, and I think there are other holders for 3 or more candles too. The glaze is called "seagull" and the shape (no 977) was probably designed by John Adams and Harry Brown in the mid to late 1930's.

Unglazed Poole Vase EV/979

2011-08-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

I found this one on eBay last week. It's an example of unglazed wares that Poole Pottery were making from about 1921 until the early 1930's. The patterns were originally designed by James Radley Young for similar, but much more primitive looking, unglazed pots that he was producing during the the years of World War 1. These patterns were later adapted by Truda carter. The painting in brown and terracotta slips is much more precise than the earlier pots, and this example is EV pattern, painted by Hilda Trim. The vase has a clear glazed interior, that's resisted crazing and the body was, I think, fired at a higher temperature and is as a result relatively less porous. Making it a perfectly usable and durable vase, though it was really quite grubby when it came to me. It's 9 inches tall.

Blue Lace Glaze Storage Jar

2011-08-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

Here's one storage jar from a range of kitchen and tableware designed by Guy Sydenham and Tony Morris in 1967. Initially coloured in one of two reactive glazes, this one "Blue Lace" and a mottled green called "Sea Crest", this shape and others was also treated to "Traditional " painted patterns.

Early HH Pattern Chamber Stick

2011-08-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

I just about forgot this one, but found it again today hiding in a box under the bed in the guest room. Won on eBay earlier this year, it has a couple of nasty chips on the top rim (which is why it was in the box), but at the time I had to buy it, because the shape and pattern are both so gorgeous. It's an early example and the grey glaze dates it to between 1922 and 1924. It's shape number 261, LD pattern painted by Ethel Barrett.

Poole Pottery Bear

2011-08-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

The thought of collecting small animal figurines never occurred to me until fairly recently, and as yet I'm not altogether comfortable with it. This bear is, I think, a later adaptation of one of a series of six bear cubs designed by Marjorie Drawbell in 1948/49.

New Stoneware Coffee Pot

2011-08-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

Once I started with the milk jug and sugar bowl (posted a few weeks back) I had to keep an eye out for the coffee pot, and in no time really found this one on eBay. It's a complicated shape with it's seated lid and carved decoration, and must have been very time consuming to make.

Poole Pottery Celebrating Thomas Hardy Festival 1968

2011-07-29T01:26:00.000-07:00

This plate dates from 1968 - fifty years after Thomas Hardy died. The trapezoid shape was first used for Delphis decoration in 1966, and the early examples, I think, like the dish here, have little feet at the back to stand on, rather than a complete foot ring. The raised decoration is also reminiscent of (if much less sophisticated than) the early Poole portrait plaques and tiles made during world war 1, that used a Tremblay technique to give a quite photographic likeness.

Poole Pottery Delphis 8 inch plate

2011-07-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

This one was is signed with the mark used by Patricia Churchouse who's recorded as working at Poole between 1962 and 1965. But from the factory mark the plate must date from after 1966/67, so there's a bit of a mystery.

Poole Powder Pot

2011-07-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

I really like both the pattern and the shape of this pot. It's the middle size of 3 powder bowls that Poole Pottery made, this one being 5 inches in diameter. The shape number is 956, the pattern LD and it was painted by Hilda Hampton. Under the lid is painted "R.I.B.I. Bournemouth 1929" - so it was made for the the Rotary Club conference of that year. I just been updating the two Traditional galleries on my main site, but missed this one off, so thought I should at least post a picture of it on here.

Another Bokhara Preserve Jar for the collection

2011-07-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

This is number 13 for me, so nearly halfway to having the full set that Robert Jefferson designed. This one is called 655/OB.A and is already posted on the main site.

"New Stoneware" milk jug and sugar bowl

2011-07-17T00:52:00.000-07:00

These two are part of a coffee set designed by Guy Sydenham at Poole Pottery in 1967. Each piece was hand-thrown and carved by Alan White and Angela Wyburgh. The colour above is "Serpentine", and they also came in a colour called "Pampas".

A very slippery slope

2011-07-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

My first tile on Monday and by the end of the week ten of these arrive in the post. I knew I shouldn't have started. This is a screen printed 10 cm Carter tile with a pattern designed by Ivor Kamlish sometime between 1958 and 64.

Another costly departure

2011-07-16T04:01:00.000-07:00

This is the first undamaged piece of Poole nursery ware to join my collection. I've not bought any in the past, because there's not much about and what there is is usually quite expensive. This one seems like a bit of a bargain though, so I snapped it up from eBay, but it's a false economy as now I'll have to find others to go with it!

Anyway its from the Nursery Rhymes series designed by Dora Batty in 1921-22. This particular plate features a fine lady, a white horse (not the cock horse - that's ridden by the story teller) and Banbury Cross. It's painted by Anne Hatchard on a grey glaze which dates it to the early 1920's. It's surprisingly small at 5 inches in diameter.

Carter tile

2011-07-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

I know I'm on a slippery slope here. This tile was made at Poole in the late 1950's or 1960's, I'm yet to decide which. I think tile production was the most profitable area for Poole for much, if not all, of the pottery's history. It's not something I know much about and until this week I've not collected a single tile. The trouble is I know more will now follow.

Bakewell Antiques Fair

2011-07-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

A couple of posts ago I began to covert a pot in this XK pattern, to match the others I have in different colours. Well on Tuesday this week, these five turned up at the Bakewell Antiques Fair. They were painted by Dorothy James sometime between 1924 and 1934. Three egg cups are damaged, but I don't mind as they look good here, and being out in the Peak District for the day lead naturally to a very pleasing pub lunch.

Found in the last few seconds of injury time.

2011-07-10T09:08:00.001-07:00

I found this one today at the Elsecar Antiques Centre just north of Sheffield. There's a small fair that's held at the heritage centre next door on Sunday's once every month. After going round the stalls at the fair and walking through most of the Antiques Centre, I finally came across this vase was sitting in very the last cabinet.The vase is 5 inches high, shape number 959, the pattern is JV and it was painted by Winifred Collett in the first half of the 1930's. Its not the rarest pattern but I really like its jazzy look and its quite unusual to find it painted on a pot as big as this.

Little Chain of Discovery - Early Carter Stabler Adams Bowl 223 CV

2011-07-06T13:16:00.000-07:00

There's a great collection of early Poole Pottery and Phoebe Stabler figures at Abwerystwyth University. One of the pots they have is a lidded round box with an unusual peacock finial, painted in a naive and very sweet CV pattern.

I had a look again at this pot and others in the Abwerystwyth collection a couple of weeks ago. Then I noticed that an identical lidded box appears in a photo from October 1921 of a display of Poole Pottery at Regent House in London, reproduced on page 37 of the Hayward and Atterbury Poole Pottery book. 1921 was the year that the Carter Stabler and Adams company was established, and these pots were their early productions.

The CV pattern lidded box is in the front of the photo on the far left and on the right is a CV pattern bowl. Of course, the bowl I also recognised, because an identical one had been listed on eBay the same week and I'm now the proud new owner. It's 4 inches in diameter and painted by Ethel Barrett in 1922 (so I can't claim it's the same bowl, but it would be a shame to let a minor detail spoil a good story).

Similar Geometric Patterns

2011-07-03T04:24:00.000-07:00

The latest addition to my collection of these little geometric patterned pots is on the right of the photo. It's a DS pattern, 8cm tall vase shape number 585, painted by Hilda Trim in the late 1920's or early 1930's. The other two are SP and QO pattern and are all variations of the same basic design. TheQO pattern, in the middle, appears to be the most common colour scheme, and probably works best of the three, but there is also a forth yellow and black version that's wanting to be found somewhere.

Delphis 10 Inch Plate painted by Angela Wyburgh

2011-07-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

This 10 inch plate dates form the late 1960's and is the latest edition to my collection from eBay last week. Usually, I'm not so drawn to Delphis designs with this much symmetry but the colour and texture on this one is so good I was really pleased to win it.

Portuguese Stripe Jug

2011-06-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

This early Poole jug is well travelled. It was listed on eBay in Australia at the beginning of this year and spent 3 months on an ocean crossing to arrive back in England. The jug is 5 inches tall and dates from about 1921, there is an indistinct painters mark and no shape number that I can make out. It does have a lovely tactile, gently pinched spout.

Some more Postcards

2011-06-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

I found some more old postcards to add to the other images on the website. Top, "Dipping the ware in the glaze" and under that, "Firing the Kiln". Both have the date 4/9/1933 written in pencil on the back. If anybody can tell me anything more about the images or people I'd love to know. You can see the other cards here.

Guildford Cathedral Pin Dish

2011-06-26T00:52:00.000-07:00

There's a photo of a trapezium shaped dish with the same image of Guildford Cathedral in the Hayward and Atterbury "Poole Pottery" book. So I've been hunting for one of these for a long time, and maybe there are fewer around than you'd expect, though I don't think rarity makes everything particularly valuable. It dates from somewhere between 1959 and 67. Anyway, I love the square shape,, I like the connection of pottery and architecture and the decoration has a nice feel to it, screen printed and hand coloured. I've got a very similar dish of Coventry Cathedreal on my website.

Carter & Co

2011-06-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

I'm meant to be focusing on updates to the main website this week (and last week, and the week after) but when this arrived through the post this morning, I couldn't wait to post a photo here.

This is now my oldest Poole pot by a good few years. It's an example of unglazed ware developed by James Radley Young, through the war years, from 1914. It is signed on the baser Carter Co Poole, a mark used from 1908 until 1921.

Swaps

2011-06-19T02:53:00.000-07:00

The latest addition to my Bokhara jar collection. Designed by Robert Jefferson in 1964, these hand-thrown jam pots (shape number 657) are painted in OGB pattern by Mary Lowman on the right, with the one on the left carrying mark for Silvia Davis, although she's recorded as working only until 1962.

Anyway the two pot appeared separately on eBay last week and after winning the first (no.12 in my collection), I thought the second could be used to swap with any other Bokhara fans, or maybe might even get used for jam!

Art Deco CR Pattern Vase

2011-06-17T02:49:00.000-07:00

I found this one a few months ago on eBay. It was a bit dirty and has a couple of hairline cracks, but the pattern is so good I bided for it anyway, and the great thing about cracked pots is that you don't need to worry too much about using them. Although I'm not sure any Poole vase would be happy to contain water, cracked ones do make great pen holders. It's a great looking vase until a perfect one comes along and Shape number 974, 7" tall, painted by Hilda Hampton in the early 1930's.

Janet Parker Laird Tiles

2011-06-12T02:18:00.000-07:00

These Tiles were made by Janet Parker Laird and exhibited on the North Dorset Art Trail that Janet participated in earlier this month. I could't get down south to see it myself, but Janet has posted some photos of her work on show on her blog janetparkerlaird-ceramicartist, and trusted these three tiles to the post for me last week. They're are the only pottery I've collected from new, but they will sit very happily with the other work I have from Janet's Delphis days at Poole Pottery.

Royal Copenhagen Dish

2011-06-10T01:49:00.000-07:00

This is the pot I found at Lincoln this week. It's not Poole Pottery, but it is a lovely dish, so I know I shouldn't be disappointed with my trip. The dish was made by the Royal Copenhagen factory in the 1970's, and the pattern designed by Johanne Gerber. It's also signed by the person who decorated it, but I'm not sure who that mark belongs to, so I've included a photo of the base in the hope that someone else can tell me this and more about the dish.
There are definite influences from Scandinavian pottery on Poole of the 1950's, 60's and 70's. And I think other pottery blogs are starting to have an influence on me too. In the absence of Poole at Lincoln, as well as buying this dish I was also drawn repeated to Hornsea Pottery cruets and storage jars from the same period. For an idea of how good these things look Potshots blog is a good place to start. I just wish I had room for more.

Lincoln on Tuesday

2011-06-08T11:54:00.001-07:00

I went to the Lincoln Antiques Fair on Tuesday. With an early start (in fact I overslept, but still got there for 9 am) and armed with fair amount of cash, I came away without a single piece of Poole. There were a few Poole pots there, but nothing really that made me want to buy them, and as I wondered about I started to worry that I'd begun to lose interest in collecting!

Today I still find that thought a bit worrying. Lincoln is a massive fair. There might have been a few hundred thousand objects to see, so it's hard to believe I came away with nothing. I was there on day two, so I guess some of the best buys might have been snapped up already and I perhaps I'm a bit spoilt by eBay (were again this week there are over 100, 000 listings under the Pottery subheading alone). Perhaps too, finally, I'm starting to be a bit more selective in what I collect.

Anyway, I did buy one pot, just not a Poole pot, but a Royal Copenhagen BACA dish, showing a pattern of birds and fish designed by Johanne Gerber in the 1970's. If I'm not careful it could start a whole new area of collecting because it looks so stylish. I'd post a photo of it now, but to add to my sense of unease my camera broke yesterday too, so that will have to wait.

Instead, I've posted a photo of a Delphis vase I found the last time I went to Lincoln. This is a less common shape (no. 35), only made for one year, its 10cm tall and was painted by Andree Fontana in 1975.

Aegean Fish

2011-06-04T03:22:00.000-07:00

This Poole Aegean sweet dish came from Lincoln Antiques Fair, a couple of months ago. I'll be off to that fair again next week, so its high time I posted a photo of this. As the figurative Aegean patterns go , I think the fish have a bit more appeal, than the boats at least, and the other animals and landscapes that decorate Aegean plates are much less common and probably out of my price range.

It's shape number 361, 7 inches long, decorated by Carolyn Wills using the silhouette technique. Carolyn worked at Poole from 1972 until 1979, her sisters (i think) Julia and Laura also Decorated Aegean ware at Poole.

W.A.P.W Spoon

2011-06-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

This spoon was made by Wales Association of Pewter Works. They seem to specialise in making small models of wizards and mythical beasts, holding little crystal balls, as well as making spoons with various crests on top. Some of the crests are enamelled badges stuck on, but this one has a quite roughly cast Poole dolphin with "Poole Pottery" written underneath. Which is why it's ended up with me. I imagine that it could have been sold at the pottery but I like to think that it's one of a set along with other famous pottery names.

Poole Bokhara Jam Pot 657JB

2011-05-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

This Poole Pottery jam pot is one of 29 similar pots from the Bokhara range designed by Robert Jefferson in 1964. To me this is number 11 my other 10 can be seen here. It's another challenge and as I get closer to number 29 they will become harder to find.

JL Pattern Egg Cups

2011-05-28T22:13:00.000-07:00

I was really pleased to find these on eBay. Painted by Marjorie Batt in the late 1920's or early 30's, this simple pattern, with the yellow and grey, is very effective. It's also not a pattern I'd seen before and it suits an egg cup very well, as it looks pretty much like the cartoon broken edges of an egg shell, with of course yolk yellow inside. Originally there would have been one more companion, together with a matching tray.

Unfortunately though, it's not just the egg sells that have that been cracked in the past and each pot has quite bad damage. So a bit of a disappointment when they arrived in the post, but the seller at least agreed to refund half the cost, and I am now spurred on to find the missing (and in my dreams perfect) fourth pot.

Poole Studio 8" plate Carole Holden

2011-05-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

Pots with the Poole Studio mark are quite hard to find. When they appear on eBay, like this one, they're quickly snapped up and squirrelled away by collectors, like me. This plate has the mark used between 1964 and 1966 and was painted in 1966 by Carole Holden. I was born in the same year, though I know which of us has has aged less.

More Robert Jefferson Spice Jars.

2011-05-21T08:42:00.000-07:00

I'd heard that the Green Diamond spice jars had also been made in red, but I didn't expect them to look like these. They must pre-date the Green Diamond jars, as both pots pictured here are hand thrown. They are also hand painted with the spice name scratched through the red band. Although the lettering is in the same style, or hand even, as the scene printed versions. They also have the same 1959-67 back stamp that the other jars have.

Jack, Jill and John Nursery Mug

2011-05-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

Poole Pottery nursery ware is a whole field of collecting into which I've not ventured until now . This mug dates from between 1934 and 37, the Nursery Rhymes series was designed by Dora Batty in 1921-22 and here Jack and Jill are painted by Marian Heath. I do try not to be overly sentimental and also try to avoid chipped pots. But there is something very sweet about named pottery and little John will be at least 74 years old by now.

Robert Jefferson Stroage Jars

2011-05-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I was set on the goal of assembling a complete set of the Green Diamond Storage Jars that Robert Jefferson designed at Poole Pottery in 1963. I knew there were just six small jars and 4 larger ones, and it didn't turn out to be such a tall order. After a couple of months of looking on eBay I was able to proudly display the result on my website. My contentment was short lived however, as a few months later a 7th jar "Bay" appeared in a matt blue glaze. So the collecting never quite ends, and now here's "Curry", complete with authentic smelly cork stopper. One day, they will all be mine!

Look into the Eyes

2011-05-15T02:00:00.000-07:00

This vase is decorated in the NB pattern by Rene Hayes sometime between 1926 and 1934. It's a more colourful version of the NA pattern also on this blog, and more colourful than most Deco Poole designs for that matter. The blue is particularly vibrant, quite thickly painted and the lighter colour that you find on a few Truda Carter deigns from this period. Anyway the result is quiet mesmerising.

Sailsbury Cathedral City Lodge Ladies Festival 4.3.63

2011-05-14T01:51:00.000-07:00

There isn't much more to say about this one. It's screen printed and hand coloured and a new addition to my collection of these little commemorative Poole Dishes. The image is taken from a drawing by Tony Morris and was also produced minus the top inscription.

Poole Pottery Pepper Pot

2011-05-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

At just under two and a half inches tall this maybe the smallest pot I own. It's decorated in WL pattern and signed by Ruth Pavely, together with an inscribed "Poole" and a shape number 298.

Deja Vu

2011-05-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

I sold one of these PQB pattern bowls on eBay in September last year. Then six months later another one appears on eBay and I end up buying it. So much for de-cluttering, but this is one of my favourite Contemporary Poole patterns and it doesn't take up a lot of space. The new bowl was painted by Pat Dightam between 1955 and '58. The one I sold dated from the same period and was painted by Diane Holloway.

Art Deco Lidded Pot QO 293

2011-05-06T04:12:00.000-07:00

There's about 4 colour combinations of this pattern. There's a blue and green version, a brown version and a really nice yellow and black one. This this colourful blue and yellow version, QO pattern, seems to be the most common, and I have a couple of other pots in this. I don't have anything in this shape though, with it's sweet horse shoe handles, and it's a great addition to the collection. The pot was painted by Hilda Trim sometime between 1926 and 1934.

AS ART IS - North Dorst Summer Art Trail - 28th May until 5th June 2011

2011-05-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

A great chance to see and buy the current work of former Poole Pottery Artists Janet Paker Laird and Carol Cutler

Janet Parker Laird - Ceramic Artist (POOLE POTTERY, DELPHIS STUDIO 1969-1974): AS ART IS

Contemporary Pattern Mustard Pot UFW

2011-05-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

This pattern, designed by Ruth Pavely in 1956/57, is also sometimes referred to as "Tears Pattern". Although I think it looks a bit more cheery than that. I found this pot on eBay a while back, but have just been prompted to post a picture after seeing an equally sweet cheerful little mustard pot here on Potshots blog

Robert Jefferson Dagger Plaque

2011-04-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

This wall plaque is from a range of decorative plaques and trays that Robert Jefferson designed in 1964. There is a hole in the middle of the grip for hanging. The plaques are more colourful, stylish and impracticable than the trays.

Extra XP Pattern Pot

2011-04-25T01:32:00.000-07:00

This pattern is one of mine, and many peoples, favourites. It's one of the few that has a nickname -Sweet Pea, and has lovely Art Deco motifs. The vase is shape number 199, about six inches tall, marked as TY pattern, ( I cant distinguish this from XP) and was painted by Miriam Jones. I found it on Ebay last week.

The Jam pot was one of the first Traditional pots that I collected. It's shape number 288, XP pattern painted by Marjorie Batt. Both the vase and jam pot date to about 1935.

I also have a shape 117 XP pattern vase- the same shape as the 199 vase, but 3 inches shorter in height. I know somewhere there must be a 115 shape in this pattern (that would be a middle-size) which I've yet to find. There would be some satisfaction in showing an appearance of rationality to my collection, even if the actual shape numbers, and pattern names don't quite make sense. To fund my search the jam pot was put up on eBay last night.

More photos on on eBay here.