This deliciously tactile work of mid-century design by British company Beswick Pottery. The seemingly simple form is of stylised ripples like that of its art glass counterpart, the Fazzoletto handkerchief form.
The glaze décor is a satin, semi-matt gloss with a pale Butterscotch cream that is overlaid with variegated deep Chocolate brown that graduates into a base of deep Mint Grin. The combination of the form, colour palette, and condition makes this piece a rare find. This work would suit a vintage-inspired room as a standalone display piece or functionally as a succulent planter.
CONDITION Superb. There is mild use wear on the underside of the base and interior of the planter that is commensurable with the age of the piece. The underside of the base is stamped with 'MADE IN ENGLAND' and Beswick's model number '808'. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 6.5" / 16.5 cm tall (from base to rim). Width c. 12.1" / 30.8 cm in width (across widest point) x depth: c. 5" / 12.6 cm. Base measurements: c. 4.8" / 12.3 cm x c. 3.5" / 9 cm. Unpackaged weight: 0.7 kg / 725 g
NOTES Planter bowl 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.
Marian Zawadzki for Tilgmans Keramik, Signed 1966 Swedish Mid Modern Sgraffito Sculptural Vase, Rare
Regular price£498.00
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This striking work of Swedish mid-century Modernist design by Marian Zawadzki (b. 1912 - d. 1978) who was a professor and later, artist and ceramist for Tilgmans Keramik of Gothenburg, Sweden. Zawadzki's experimentation of the Sgraffito technique brought great popularity and appreciation for Tilgman's ceramics and his work became exemplary for Tilgmans. Zawadzki's stylised use of the Sgraffito technique is absolutely a feature in this piece and is rare as it bears the artist's personal monogram and dating on the body of the vase.
True to the roots of Modernist design, the simple form and boldly geometric décor of this vase speaks to an honest expression of the natural earthenware. The texture of the earthenware is very tactile, with sections left deliberately coarse and unglazed. The unglazed sections create confident contrast against the individually glazed sections of boldly geometric, Sgraffito décor.
The vase is finished with an interior of gloss glaze that is coloured in a Spearmint green towards the neck and a softer cream towards the base.
CONDITION Superb. No cracks or repairs. There are minor, negligible chips on the exterior which are commensurate with the age of the piece and mild use wear on the interior. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base of the vase is stamped with 'Tilgmans Keramik' and 'Made in Sweden' stamp and model number '606'. The body of the vase is inscribed with Zawadzki's 'M' logo and dated with '1966'.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 14.7" / 37.3 cm tall (from base to rim) x 5.9" / 15 cm rim and base diameter. Unpackaged weight: c. 3.1 kg / 3,120 g .
NOTES Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Marian Zawadzki (b. 1912 - d. 1978) Antoni Marian Zawadzki (sometimes known as 'Zawadski' or 'Zawadsky') was an associate professor, artist and ceramist, was born in Poland in 1912 who, as a refugee, moved to Gothenburg in Sweden in 1953. In Gothenburg he worked as an artistic director at Tilgmans Keramik. Zawadzki's best known for his richly decorated objects in the Sgraffito technique.
His works included lamp bases, vases, bowls, urns and wall plates and he would receive commissions for public, municipal and private buildings. Zawadzki would leave Tilgman's Ceramics in 1970, moving to Vallda outside Kungsbacka where he opened his own workshop, Vallda Keramik. The production in his own workshop is very similar to his work at Tilgmans.
Shorter and Son, Art Deco Geometric Décor Peach and Mint Marble Planter, English, 1920s-30s
Regular price£55.00
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This elegantly stylised work of Art Deco design is by the English pottery Shorter and Son (est. c. 1900 - c. 1964). The sculpted and abstract jardiniere form firmly displays architectural influences of Art Deco geometricism and echoes from the Art Nouveau period. The overall shape is that of a tiered and asymmetrically rounded-rectangle that is an excellent canvas for the tactile décor.
The décor is a touch-inviting pattern of stylised geometric accents; from the rounded angular borders trimming the tiers to the scalloped borders and flower-like segments. Further elevating this piece is the sumptuous glaze that is a blended dappling of Powdered Peach, Mint green, and Pale Indigo blue tones. The visual appeal of this piece is timeless in style but yet also very much a piece of Art Deco history.
CONDITION Very Good. No chips, cracks, or repairs. The most notable wear is a glaze-flaw, where the glaze was applied unevenly and subsequently created a wear. Please refer to photographs as they form part of the condition report. The base bears Shorter and Son's stamp denoting 'Shorter and Son Ltd, Stoke on Trent, Made in Great Britain".
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 3.7" / 9.5 cm. Width: c. 8.6" / 21.8 cm (across widest point) x c. 4.5" / 11.5 cm (into deepest point). Unpackaged weight: c. 0.6 kg / 615 g
NOTES Jardiniere planter will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Before the 1920s, Shorter and Son (c. 1900 - 1964) produced Edwardian Majolica ware, creating a broad range of domestic and ornamental ware such as jardinieres, umbrella holders, bowls and vases. From the 1920s onward, their range only broadened however, they would adapt their designs to the burgeoning influences of the period. The design of their tableware and accessories, for example, reflected the Art Deco influences of the greats such as Clarice Cliff and Mabel Leigh designed for Shorter and Son from 1933 to 1935.
Sadly, in the early 1960s, the company faced the death of director Arthur Colley Shorter as well as the loss of a factory in Copeland Street to a road development scheme. Finally, there were significant expenses to convert to smokeless firing to conform with the Clean Air Act. These factors resulted in a decision to accept an offer from S. Fielding & Co. Ltd the owners of Crown Devon around 1964.
Empire Ware, Art Deco Iced Peach Tea and Turquoise Palette Diamond Planter Dish, British, 1920s-30s
Regular price£83.00
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This stylised work of British art pottery piece is of English late-Art Deco design from the 1930s and is by the pottery Empire Ware.
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 Iced/Powdered Turquoise that graduates into the Iced Peach Tea tones. The exterior décor is a reflection of the interior with the same tones.
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 is mild age-wear in the form of movement marks on the underside of the base and faint crazing all over 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 marked with Empire Ware's stamp.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 3.5" / 9 cm by c. 12.4" / 31.5 cm length (across longest point). Width c. 8" / 20.2 cm (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 3" / 7.5 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.
A BIT OF HISTORY Empire Ware began life as Empire Works, producing earthenware and porcelain in 1896 in Stoke-on-Trent. The company lasted through the decades reinventing themselves a few times until the works became too difficult to modernise and led to their closure in 1967. In more recent times, the mark 'Empire Ware Made in Portugal' appeared on the market however, pieces from this company are known as a tribute and reproductions of the original company.
This stunning, handblown work of Swedish Modernist design art glass is by Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983), who was considered as one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a pioneer of glass art. This particular piece comes from a series of 5 objects designed by Lindstrand between 1955-1956 for Kosta (Boda) glassworks. Similar to Wirkkala's Kantarelli (Chantarelle) series that was released around the same time, Lindstrand's series focuses on the gentle exaggeration and stylisation of organic curves and stripes. But whilst Wirkkala chose to create physically grooved stripes on his works, Lindstrand chose to embed feathering threads of Deep Espresso into the body of his series.
These beautiful threads are in fact individual and separate but the prismatic quality that is typically found in Swedish crystal magnifies the bands to create a rolling effect in the stem. This magnificent piece stays true to the roots of Modernist design through the beautiful simplicity of form that speaks to an honest expression of the natural material.
CONDITION Excellent. No chips, cracks or repair. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base 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 is signed with Lindstrand's initials and model number "LH1210" and further impressed with Lindstrand's acid edged stamp.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 7.2" / 18.3 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 6.5" / 16.5 cm in width (across widest point). Base measurements: 2.4" / 6.1 cm. Unpackaged weight: 1.2 kg / 1,185 g
NOTES Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983) is considered as one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a pioneer of glass art. Lindstrand's prolific career included many design highlights, including his ability to excel at a technique called Cased Glass (known to many glass collectors as 'Sommerso'), in which a vividly coloured or patterned section of glass is surrounded by and seems to float within a clear crystal body.
Lindstrand's career began in commercial illustration before finding employment at the glass manufactory Orrefors. He would join Kosta Boda in 1950, remaining there until 1973. Beyond his commercial work, he also produced several massive public sculptures around the world. Today, his works are in many museum collections, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Kosta Boda is Sweden’s oldest glass company, founded in 1742 and began making art glass — that is, unique and limited edition pieces — with the hiring of the painter Gunnar Wennerberg in 1898. Kosta Boda enjoys a reputation as the country’s most artistic and experimental glassworks, featuring artists and sculptors.
There are few Kosta Boda designers who stand foremost in the minds of collectors, one is Vicke Lindstrand, who excelled at a technique of 'Sommerso', or cased glass.
This touch-inviting work of art pottery is by the famous English ceramic artist and Art Director of Newport Pottery, Clarice Cliff (b. 1899 - d.1972). This particular piece comes from the Raffia Indiana series by Cliff in 1936(-37) with the form and hand painted décor being inspired by Native American basketware.
The exquisitely tactile design came during a time when taste was towards heavily modelled ware. Cliff reflected this preference into the intricately ribbed ridges on the 8 concentric bands and the carefully painted décor of this dish. 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 particularly rare find.
CONDITION Excellent. There are no chips or repairs, or crazing. There is insignificant and ageing 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' and further stamped with 'REGISTRATION APPLIED FOR' that was in use between 1928-36 as Cliff had to register her designs to deter copies.
Please note that the dish/plate stand is not included.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 1.3" / 3.3 cm (from base to rim) x c. 9.2" / 23.4 cm diameter (excluding handles). Diameter: c. 11" / 28 cm (including handles). Base diameter: c. 4.6" / 11.8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.5 kg / 530 g
NOTES Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be 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.