Saturday, 28 October 2017
Circus Tent
WL is often refereed to as the circus tent pattern. An inverted version of the pattern forms the top inch or so of the larger XF pattern seen in the previous post. The shape number for this jug is unclear but may be 678.
Sunday, 22 October 2017
XF
XF must be the king for geometric patterns. I've wanted a vase in this pattern for years, but until now have always been outbid. So it must be quite a popular pattern, which make sense given that you get so much more decoration for your money. This example was painted by Vera Bridle who worked at Poole between 1923 and '33, and I think it suits the shape (no 418) really well.
Sunday, 15 October 2017
Lilly Pedley
Saturday, 14 October 2017
One extreme to another
A fraction of the size of the vase in the last post, at just 8 cm tall, this shape number 583 vase was painted, in the RU pattern, by Lilly Pedley, some time between 1925 and 1932.
Sunday, 8 October 2017
Nitromors magic
This huge (34cm tall) glazed "Etruscan" vase arrived from Ebay last month. It was listed with what looked like white scuff marks to the surface, and this made sense as these pots are quite susceptible to surface damage. However when it arrived this scuffing turned out to be white paint - it looked like someone had brushed against it when painting nearby.
Old pots often collect small specks of paint, presumably from being left in situ while ceilings are being rollered. Paint doesn't stick very well to a glazed surface and usually specks of paint will wash off easily with warm water. The paint on this pot was a different matter however. The rough unglazed surface made a perfect canvas and the paint was stuck. Luckily I remembered reading in a pot conservation guide that nitromors is used by conservators to remove old glue from repairs. It seemed quite drastic at the time, but an old can of nitromors and several cotton wool buds later and the vase looks to be in factory-fresh condition. It turns out that nitromors will burn skin, completely melt paint, but magically leaves pottery untouched.
The pattern is AB and it was painted by Ruth Pavely in the early 1930's. The V&A have a similar vase.
Old pots often collect small specks of paint, presumably from being left in situ while ceilings are being rollered. Paint doesn't stick very well to a glazed surface and usually specks of paint will wash off easily with warm water. The paint on this pot was a different matter however. The rough unglazed surface made a perfect canvas and the paint was stuck. Luckily I remembered reading in a pot conservation guide that nitromors is used by conservators to remove old glue from repairs. It seemed quite drastic at the time, but an old can of nitromors and several cotton wool buds later and the vase looks to be in factory-fresh condition. It turns out that nitromors will burn skin, completely melt paint, but magically leaves pottery untouched.
The pattern is AB and it was painted by Ruth Pavely in the early 1930's. The V&A have a similar vase.
Saturday, 30 September 2017
Studland
This Studland pattern coffee pot came together with a few cups and saucers and a sugar bowl. I don't have room to display those other pieces, but the coffee pot looks good standing among other decorative, less functional ware. Studland tableware was designed by Harold Stabler in 1930 and the shapes were clearly influenced by his earlier work as a silversmith. The apple green glaze was created by John Adams.
Sunday, 24 September 2017
Garden City
This bowl was lot 227 in the same Hansons' 27th June 2016 sale in which the pot in the previous post was listed. I did really well that day!
It was cataloged as having a floral skyscraper design. but I've always seen this LP pattern as a much more straight forward roses and trellis design with Art Deco chinoiserie styling, that sits comfortably alongside other rose and trellis patterns, PU and PI. So to prove me right, I googled "early skyscrapers", thinking that they would all be pointy and Chrysler-like, but in fact there are quite a few boxy ones from the 1930's. So maybe floral skyscraper isn't so far-fetched.
It was cataloged as having a floral skyscraper design. but I've always seen this LP pattern as a much more straight forward roses and trellis design with Art Deco chinoiserie styling, that sits comfortably alongside other rose and trellis patterns, PU and PI. So to prove me right, I googled "early skyscrapers", thinking that they would all be pointy and Chrysler-like, but in fact there are quite a few boxy ones from the 1930's. So maybe floral skyscraper isn't so far-fetched.
Labels:
Art Deco
Saturday, 23 September 2017
Cogwheels
Labels:
Art Deco
Saturday, 16 September 2017
Wobbly jug
I love this little jug. The thick tin glaze, on a pot so small, gives it a really wobbly look. It's made from buff coloured stoneware, measures a little over 7 cm tall, and is marked with the first CSA factory mark, shape number T324, a pattern mark that I think is /A and a painters mark that I cant decipher.
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