Small but Mighty

I won this vase at a recent Auction at Fryer and Browns in Surrey, thanks to an online bid.  It's a good pot, YW pattern, shape 512, painted by Ruth Pavely in the early 1930's.  The only disappointment when it arrived was that at 7 inches tall it's not quite as big as I'd imagined.  I think with pots a few inches does make a lot of difference in terms of scale and impact.But there's a lot crammed in to this pot for its size and i do like this pattern, especially with the top border.

Mystery Solved

This MC mark was used by Matilda, or as she was known back in the day Sissie, Collett.  It was identified at a recent Poole Pottery sale at Cottees Auction House in Wareham.  Sissie's family were there selling a number of pots painted by her and all carrying this MC mark. I have to thank a fellow collector from  Scotland, present at the auction, for sharing this information with me.
Sissie designed  patterns for Poole. as well as painting them.  The Hayward and Atterbury book does not show dates for when Sissie worked,  but does identify some early sprig patterns that she designed in 1921.  The pot I own that caries this MC mark http://robspoolepotterycollection.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/any-excuse also dates to 1921.

EE

I found this EE pattern, shape 210, 12 cm tall vase at Doncaster Racecourse antiques fair a couple of weeks ago.  Painted by Marjorie Batt in the late 1920's or early 30's.

Half Pint

Half the size, but the same shape as Blue Bird jug in the previous post, it was a happy coincidence finding this LT pattern jug on eBay.  Painted by Phyllis Ryall who worked at Poole from 1928 to '37 it was made in the early 1930's.  It has an impressed hexagonal trial mark (as so many pots seem to) and a inscribed shape number 320.
A lot of the Poole shapes come in 3 or 4 graduated sizes and getting the same shape in different sizes (ideally with the same or a related pattern) is a nice, if a little nerdish, way to build a collection.  I have a cream jug with the same overall proportions shape number 326 and there could be one mid-sized between that and this LT jug.

Bluebird Pattern Jug

I found this Bluebird (PB) pattern jug at the Newark Fair last week.  I've managed to photograph it here so that you only get a glimpse of the tail feathers of the bluebird flying off to the left.  Shape number 319, it stands 6 inches tall, and was painted by Vera Bridle sometime between 1924 and 1933.

New Room

I've finally finished decorating and installing the new cabinets in the spare room.  The cabinets all came from eBay in the end, as I couldn't quite find the right thing in Ikea.  

A Delphis Wall of Shape no. 3 and no. 4 round plates

The Trouble with Bowls

Of course I had to bid for this beautiful CN pattern bowl when I saw it on eBay last year.  It was painted by Ethel Barrett in the mid 1920's, with really quite broad loose brush stokes, that belie the overall symmetry.  What's not to love?  Apart from it being a large 10 inch diameter bowl (shape 632) that makes it so hard to find space to display.
The struggle to find space has featured large for me this week.  I've had a few days off work, and have spent most of them decorating the spare room/pottery central and setting up some new display cabinets.  I will still be at it over the bank holiday, but sadly now realise that no matter how much extra shelf space, there will never be quite enough.  And probably not for this lovely bowl.
It least the pots on display are looking well curated, and I hope to share photos on here once done.


 

New Exhibition

This up-coming exhibition of Poole Pottery from the 1960's has been organised by Graham Finch, a fellow collector of Poole Studio and Delphis ware.  Opening on 24th April at the Yingge Ceramics Museum, New Taipei City, Taiwan, I just wish I was a little closer so I could see it.  It's great proof of Poole international following though and I wish you great success Graham.

New Shape...

...Well new to me anyway.  I've wanted a vase in this mini 967 shape number for a long time so was really please to find this one painted in one of my favorite patterns (XP, Sweet Pea)  It was painted by Winifred Collett in the early 1930's.