1950s-60s Beswick Pottery, Atomic Ovoid Form Ceramic Vase / Planter | British | Rare Shape

This touch-inviting work of art pottery is by the internationally famous English ceramic artist and Art Director of Newport Pottery, Clarice Cliff (b. 1899 - d.1972). This particular piece comes from the Waterlily series by Cliff in 1938 with the form and hand painted décor being inspired by the flower of the same name.

The exquisitely tactile design came during a time when taste was towards heavily modelled ware. Cliff reflected this preference into the curved and lightly gathered petals, the diminutive flower buds nestled on the lily pads which cushion the flower and floating reed leaves resting on the lake surface. This design also came during the time of Cliff's successful breakthrough into international fame, where she received unprecedented publicity and when the phrase 'career woman' did not exist. 

This refined piece is an excellent representation of Cliff's innate ability to bring forth and elevate the unique qualities in something that is otherwise seemingly simple. Stylistically timeless, the combination of the design with the colour palette and its condition makes it a beautiful statement piece that is also a tangible piece of history.  

CONDITION
Excellent. There are no chips or repairs. There is a single hairline rupture on the interior of the bowl that does not affect the display or functional qualities as well as crazing to the glaze that is commensurate with the age of the piece. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the dish is stamped with Cliff's 'Clarice Cliff, NEWPORT POTTERY, ENGLAND' 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 4.7" / 12 cm (from base to rim) Width: c. 7.9" / 20cm cm x c. 6.1" / 15.5 cm. Base measurements:: c. 8.7" / 22.2 cm x c. 6.9" / 17.5 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.1 kg / 1,080 g

NOTES
Bowl will be securely packaged and shipping insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items. 

A BIT OF HISTORY
Clarice Cliff (1899 - 1972)
Born in the city of Stoke on Trent that was made famous by its pottery in 1899, Cliff was working in one of the many factories by the time she was 13 and by the late 1920s she was designing the colourful pottery that would blossom her career. Her striking signature characteristics appeared in her use of colour, pattern and form design. Innovative and talented, she would go on to become Art Director for Newport Pottery in 1930. 

Cliff became successful and internationally famous on an unprecedented level for a woman ceramic artist despite being known for being shy. Her colourful life and unmistakable skills in design are still being celebrated in modern day. 

This elegant work of Art Deco design is by the British Pottery Crown Devon. The pitcher jug form is seemingly simple but there are actually a number of subtle Art Deco design nuances incorporated into the design. The body is accentuated by the gently exaggerated curves at the belly and handle, with a finishing accent of a lightly fluted rim and spout. The most standout feature is obviously the carved detail and the way the body of the vase swells around the carved lines, making each section exquisitely tactile. 

The semi-matte silk glaze décor is a blending of Sky blue, dappled with dashes of pale Chartreuse, this graduates into a Dusted Cocoa brown. This refined piece is stylistically timeless and the combination of the design, colour palette, size as well as excellent condition makes it a particularly rare find.

CONDITION
Excellent. There are no chips or repairs. There is mild and negligible crazing all over that is commensurate with the age of the piece. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base bears Crown Devon's stamp denoting 'Crown Devon, Made in England' and a further indistinct stamp with the series name 'Harlem'. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 7.9" / 20 cm (from base to rim) x c. 4.3" / 11 cm rim (across widest point). Diameter: c. 5.9" / 15 cm (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 3" / 7.6 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1 kg / 1,025 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Crown Devon Fieldings (1870 - 1982)
The pottery was founded in 1870 by Simon Fieldings in Stoke on Trent but it would be 10 years later before they began to produce Majolica style pottery that was popular during the 1880s. Their product range began to expand in the 1890s, working with British United Clock company and they would continue to expand their product range as popularity flourished after successful world trade fairs in the 1900s. They sustained their success for over a century before sadly closing in 1982 at the time of the recession.

This beautifully sculptural work of Art Deco design is by British Pottery Beswick, a firmly celebrated name in British ceramics design. The sleek pitcher jug form showcases the highly tactile and sculpturally undulating bands that finishes in a flourish of very Art Deco accents of an accentuated rim and softly geometric handle. 

The glaze decor is Beswick's popular semi-matte Satin glaze, with a base of sumptuous Powdered Cerulean blue that is interspersed with dapplings of white and dustings of Cocoa brown. The base glaze is overlaid with a hand-painted, stylised Daisies in Milk white, Butter and Bumblebee yellow.

This stylistically timeless and refined piece also proudly displays its Art Deco design influences of the 1920-30s, the combination of the form with the colour palette and condition makes it a rare find.

CONDITION
Excellent. There are no chips or repairs. The most significant wear is age-related crazing all over and water staining on the interior that is commensurable with the age of the piece. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base bears the faint inscription 'MADE IN ENGLAND', the model number '162' and the Beswick stamp.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 11" / 28 cm. Width: c. 8.3" / 21 cm (across widest point). Depth: c. 4.3" / 11 cm (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 3.9" / 10 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.2 kg / 1,185g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Beswick Pottery 1892 - 2002
The Beswick firm was founded as 'J W Beswick' in 1892 by James Beswick and his sons in Staffordshire and originally produced tableware and ornaments. The pottery was chiefly known for producing high-quality porcelain figurines such as animals and Beatrix Potter characters that have become highly sought after in the collectables market.

Following James Beswick's death in 1921, his grandson John took over and continued to expand the business. In 1934, introduced a new range of jugs, bowls and vases decorated with new matte glazes. Responding to the Modernist design influence of the time, many of these highly distinctive shapes were designed by Mr Symcox. These works were often decorated in 'satin-matte' glazes using soft pastel colours running into each other or arranged in striking modern geometric blocks and lines. Beswick would go on to become known for their ceramic animal figures before being taken over by Royal Doulton in 1969 and finally closing in the early 2000s.

This majestic work of English studio art pottery piece is of English Art Deco design, with a colour palette of Monet's 'Sunset on the Seine at Lavacourt' oil painting.

Beautifully sculptural and seemingly simple, this piece is a manifestation of the significant technique needed to result in its evenly-formed body and iconically Art Deco handle. The Art Deco accents appear most prominently in softly geometric, arching yet organic handle, with a flow-through of the inscribed lines and the graduating body. The hand-painted, silky, semi-matte glaze décor is a beautiful blending of brown tones in Light Walnut, Bronze, Sepia, Sand with deeper brown tones of Raw Umber, Fig, Dark Sienna, and green tones of Powdered Sage, Pale Olive.

This piece has a gracefully elegant presence, is an embodiment of English Art Deco design from c. 90 years ago and its exceptional condition makes it a rare find.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs. Mentioned for completeness; there is mild crazing all over that is consistent with the age of the piece. Please see photographs as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base bears the inscriptions of the model number '258 L' and 'Rd No 788313' [Registered Number] that dates the piece to c. 1933.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 13.2" / 33.5 cm by c. 2.6" / 6.6 cm rim diameter. Width c. 5.3" / 13.5 cm (across widest point) Base measurements: c. 4" / 10.1 cm diameter. Weight: c. 1.1 kg / 1,085 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

Wade Ceramics 1867 - present

Wade Ceramics was originally founded in 1867, in Burslem, England, a collective of different pottery companies that specialised in earthenware and porcelain. 

The original companies were 

• Wade & Myatt (later became George Wade & Son, which made industrial ceramics and Wade Whimsies). Established 1867.
• John Wade & Co (later Wade Heath & Co, which made decorative ware, particularly Art Deco vases in the 1930s). Established 1867.
• J & W Wade (later AJ Wade Ltd, which made tiles, notably the original tiles for the London Underground). Established 1891.

Wade made its way into history with its figure collection known as Wade Whimsies that became hugely popular in the UK and America in the 1950s.  

THE ITEM
This elegant work of Scottish Sommerso Modernist glass is a slender but beautifully formed bud vase by Caithness. Suspended in the clear glass casing are ribbons of colour in Dark Amber and Deep Cerulean blue, shades of which are found in the Oban Plaid pattern. The iconic ribbons of colour used in the Oban series are inspired by the Scottish landscape.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Caithness Glass is a Scottish artistic glassware manufacturing company. It was established in Wick, Caithness, Scotland in 1961 by Robin Sinclair, 2nd Viscount Thurso, initially manufacturing ornamental glassware such as paperweights and vases. Caithness established a second factory from the late 1960s which focussed primarily on art glass. Around this time, in 1968 the company was awarded the Queen Mother's Royal Warrant (meaning they were the recognised supplier of glass to the Queen Mother) and the company continues today to make a beautiful range of glassware.

CONDITION
Very Good. No chips, cracks or repairs. There is mild use wear in the form of internal watermarks and light scratches to the underside of the base that is commensurate with the age of the piece. Please refer to the photos as they part of the condition report.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 7.9" / 20.2 cm tall x c. 2.9" / 7.3 cm width (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm. Rim diameter: c. 1.2" / 3 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.5 kg / 486 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

DESCRIPTION

This stunning work of sculpted art glass is by Jane Charles, one of the leading British contemporary glass artists. 

Multiple techniques have been utilised in the creation of this piece. Techniques include Sandblasting to create the smoothly frosted exterior and the cutting of the sides to create the faceted effect, as well as creating a 'window' into the layers of captured flowing motion within the piece. 

A BIT OF HISTORY

Jane Charles (b. 1961 - ) 

Charles was born in Edinburgh, UK and is a leading contemporary glassmaker in the UK. "Her inspiration comes from working with molten glass together with the shapes, colours and moods of the natural world. She has been producing a wide range of exquisite sculptural pieces, perfume bottles, paperweights, bowls and vases since setting up her first studio in Scotland in 1987." - source: Bircham Gallery, UK. 

Charles has exhibited widely, such as at the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh, UK, Museum of Modern Art in Brazil, Geneva Arts Centre in Switzerland,  Kunst Museum in Germany, Bonhams and Liberty's in London, UK. 

Her work can be found in public and private collections throughout the world, and she is a member of the Crafts Council list of selected makers.

CONDITION

Excellent. No chips, cracks, repairs - please see photos as part of the condition report. The underside of the vase base is signed with Charle's 'Jane Charles' signature. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 5.9 " / 15 cm tall x c. 2.8" / 7 cm width (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 1.2" / 3 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1 kg / 963 g

NOTES
Glass will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.