British

This elegant work of Art Deco design is by ceramics designer Charlotte Rhead (b. 1885 - d. 1947) for the English pottery Crown Ducal.  

The form is mildly ridged and graduates outwards, creating a well balanced bowl. The softly geometric and pointed bronzed ridges, complemented by the tactile dots and band around the base makes the form cleanly sophisticated and classically Art Deco. 

This excellent work of Rhead's iconic design makes for an stylish, edgy vessel to hold displays such as a planter for a succulents arrangement. 

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs. There is however, natural and mild staining on the interior as well as light wear to the bronze elements that is commensurate with age. The underside of the dish is stamped with Crown Ducal's mark. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm tall (from rim to base) x c. 6.3" / 16 cm wide (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 3.7" / 9.3 cm. Weight: c. 0.6 kg / 635 g

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

A BIT OF HISTORY
Charlotte Rhead (b. 1885 - d. 1947) was an English ceramics designer active in the 1920s and the 1930s in the Potteries area of Staffordshire. Rhead came from an artistic family and from the beginning of the 20th century, Charlotte began working for Wardle & Co. a pottery in the nearby town of Hanley. Though she did not stay long, it gave her the opportunity to learn the skill of tube-lining, which became a technique that would become characteristic to her career as a designer. 

She secured her first engagement as a designer in the early 1900s at T&R Boote before joining her father at Wood & Sons. Rhead is well known for her association with Burgess & Leigh, where she was a designer from 1926 to 1931 and also her work at Crown Ducal from 1931 onwards.

This stylised work of British art pottery piece is of English late-Art Deco design from the 1930s, with a colour palette similar to that of Monet's 'Wisteria' Impressionist painting.

Beautifully sculptural and seemingly simple, this piece is a manifestation of the significant technique needed to result in its evenly hand-formed body. The Art Deco accents appear most prominently in the softly geometric, diamond form. The hand-painted, silky, semi-matte glaze décor on the interior is a beautifully dappled blending of Azure blue tones with Golden Sand, Teal Green and Chocolate Brown. The exterior décor is a reflection of the interior with the same tones that is edged at the base with the Chocolate Brown. 

This piece has a gracefully elegant presence, an embodiment of English Art Deco design from c. 85 years ago. The combination of its form, colour palette and condition makes it a particularly rare find.

CONDITION
Superb. There are no chips, cracks or repairs. There mild age-wear in the form of movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurate with the age of the piece. Please refer to photographs as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base is unmarked. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 3.5" / 9 cm by c. 12.4" / 31.5 cm length (across longest point). Width c. 8.3" / 21 cm (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 6.1" / 15.5 cm x  3.9" / 10 cm. Weight: c. 0.6 kg / 600 g

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

Wadeheath Ceramics 1867 - present
Wadeheath 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 beautiful ceramic art ware known as Flaxman Ware in the Art Deco style by Wade Heath & Co and its figure collection known as Wade Whimsies that became hugely popular in the UK and America in the 1950s.

These charming works of Mid Century British design are by SylvaC Pottery.

Reflecting the Modernist design influences of its time, these pieces are a simple celebration of organic form and function with light-giving paler colours.

The abstract bottle forms each bear a mildly flaring rim, are even and well balanced. The glossy foam glaze is a rich graduating blend that starts with a Warm pink at the rim that progresses to a deeper Coral orange before ending with a Powdered Pine green at the base. The application of the glaze is in a dappled, foam manner.

CONDITION
Excellent. There are no chips, cracks, or repairs. There is mild use wear on the interior and the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the pieces. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base is stamped with Sylvac's mark in use around the 1950s of 'SYLVAC, MADE IN ENGLAND', and the model number '2446' and 'B'.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 6.3" / 16 cm x c. 3.1" / 8 cm rim diameter. Width: c. 4.3" / 11 cm (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 3.2" / 8.2 cm. Unpackaged weight [both vases]: c. 0.8 kg / 840 g

A BIT OF HISTORY
SylvaC (with a deliberate capital C at the end) was founded in 1894 by William Copestake and William Shaw, originally named Shaw & Copestake. It would be 1937 till a merging of companies formed under the name of Sylvac. Central to its history were figurines of animals, and rabbits in particular, and the company was known for its relatively inexpensive and widely available tableware and decorative works. SylvaC continued its production until the early 1980s.

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

THE ITEM

This sculpted work of contemporary design is the work of British studio potter Steve Woodhead.  

True to his style, this piece is hand-built as well as hand-thrown. There is highly skilled detail all over, such as each of the feet being coiled before impressing with a grooved surface. The colour palette is a blend of rich royal blue, peacock and powdered watermelon. 

A BIT OF HISTORY

Steve Woodhead has been potting since 1980. setting up his workshop after moving to Rugby, UK from Scarborough in 1987. Woodhead enriched his experience exploring various bodies and glazes and became a fellow of the Craft Potters Association in 1993. He developed his own style in 1995, focusing on brightly coloured work in highly original and sometimes eccentric forms.

Woodhead's work is hand-thrown and hand-built, using surface texture to affect the often multi-layered glazes. The colours of his pieces become deeper and more saturated in the lows and thinner on the highs. He biscuit fires his work in an electric kiln and the reduction firing is in a gas kiln at 1,275 to 1,300°C.

CONDITION

Excellent. No chips, cracks, repairs or signs of use - please see photos as part of condition report. The base is impressed with Steve Woodheads 'sw'' mark.

MEASUREMENTS

c. 5.9" / 15 cm tall x c. 6.3" / 16 cm length (spout to handle). Base diameter c. 3.6" / 9.2 cm. Unpackaged weight: 0.5 kg / 483 g

NOTES

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

THE ITEM
This charming 1950s piece is by British company Beswick Pottery. The shape is the more difficult to find design of a single bloom resting on a leaf. 

The glaze decor is in a Pastel colour scheme which was hugely popular in the 1950s. The dappled glazing gives the variegated effect found on leaves and consists of pastel peach-pink, turquoise, yellow, and blue.

This piece suits display as a standalone piece or as a serving dish. 

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.

CONDITION
Very Good - Excellent. There is mild crazing all over that is commensurable with the age of the piece. There is a minor hairline crack that is an imperfection from the manufacturing process. The underside of the base is stamped with Beswick's 'Beswick Ware, MADE IN ENGLAND'. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. " / 6.3  cm tall (from base to rim) x c. " / 24 cm in width (across widest point) x length: c. " / 32 cm (from flower to leaf tip). Unpackaged weight: 0.8 kg / 803 g

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