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Sunday 22 August 2010
Ian & Jerome's Newsletter Number 50, from Canada.
Ian & Jerome's Newsletter Number 50, from Canada.
Ian and Jerome's Newsletter has reached 50!
In this issue read Barry and Elaine Girling's well-researched, final and third part on the life and work of Violet Elmer.
As always, the Newsletter is well illustrated.
Included is a short biography of designer Olive Kew provided by our webmaster and moderator Harvey Pettit. Miss Kew began working at Copeland Street in 1930 and was first interviewed by Harvey in 1985.
To view this latest edition we offer a lower resolution version for those with a slower Internet connection and a higher resolution version for those with a faster broadband connection.
Each will open in a new window.
In this issue read Barry and Elaine Girling's well-researched, final and third part on the life and work of Violet Elmer.
As always, the Newsletter is well illustrated.
Included is a short biography of designer Olive Kew provided by our webmaster and moderator Harvey Pettit. Miss Kew began working at Copeland Street in 1930 and was first interviewed by Harvey in 1985.
To view this latest edition we offer a lower resolution version for those with a slower Internet connection and a higher resolution version for those with a faster broadband connection.
Each will open in a new window.
Scroll down for more news.
Friday 6 August 2010
Potteries Get-together 10 October 2010
Full details of our premier event in Stoke-on-Trent on Sunday 10 October are now available.
Go to our 2010 Stoke Get-together page for information.
BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment.
Invitations to join us for tea during the afternoon have been sent out to former employees, who always look forward to our annual Get-together in The Potteries.
Go to our 2010 Stoke Get-together page for information.
BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment.
Invitations to join us for tea during the afternoon have been sent out to former employees, who always look forward to our annual Get-together in The Potteries.
Scroll down for more news.
Friday 30 July 2010
What a Relief!
Some of the earliest Carlton Ware used sprigged reliefs as decoration. A good example is the sage green stoneware biscuit barrel on the left. The bas-relief figures of classical maidens and the border of ivy leaves on the shoulder of the barrel are typical sprigs. These were made from clay pressed into separate moulds like the one below.
They were then peeled from the mould and applied with slip (liquid clay) to the body of the pot to be decorated.
They were then peeled from the mould and applied with slip (liquid clay) to the body of the pot to be decorated.
The technique of sprigging on pots has been used through the ages; rightly or wrongly, this type of decoration is sometimes referred to as Jasper Ware after the fine grained stoneware introduced by Josiah Wedgwood about 1775. Jasper, a white mineral, was the name given to the fine white body devised by Josiah. Subsequent to Wedgwood's introduction of his cameo-like decorations many other manufactories introduced pottery of like appearance. More accurately, some would be better called sprigged wares because a Jasper-like body was not used and indeed this is what we call Carlton Ware's versions - a selection is shown below.
The Carlton Ware examples shown above are made from earthenware, which of necessity has to be glazed to protect the porous body. As a consequence, some of the fine detail of the sprigged reliefs is lost because the glaze smoothes over their crisp edges, so it does not bear close comparison with Wedgwood's Jasper Ware; as a stoneware-like and vitrified body this was not porous and remained unglazed, allowing the sharpness of the sprigs to remain.
The design for the mug was registered in 1936, as indicated by the Rd.No. 808852 printed on its base.
Notice the deep recess to contain the musical box, which in this case is removed for purposes of illustration.
In its early days, Wiltshaw & Robinson fulfilled the need for less expensive Jasper Ware lookalikes, which no doubt appealed to the aspiring middle classes of the day.
W&R did, however, offer sprigged decorations using a vitrified stoneware body, which was smear glazed.
This thinnest of coatings gave the body and its sprigged reliefs a satin sheen and at the same time retained much of the crispness of the sprigging. Stoneware examples are much harder to find, suggesting they were not as popular as their earthenware counterparts, probably because these were somewhat more expensive.
The stoneware body has to be that used for the large number of match holder/strikers made by the pottery, many of which were crested, especially for Oxford & Cambridge colleges. A selection is shown below.
W&R did, however, offer sprigged decorations using a vitrified stoneware body, which was smear glazed.
This thinnest of coatings gave the body and its sprigged reliefs a satin sheen and at the same time retained much of the crispness of the sprigging. Stoneware examples are much harder to find, suggesting they were not as popular as their earthenware counterparts, probably because these were somewhat more expensive.
The stoneware body has to be that used for the large number of match holder/strikers made by the pottery, many of which were crested, especially for Oxford & Cambridge colleges. A selection is shown below.
Sprigged Wares must have played an important part of the output of the then newly formed Copeland Street pottery, helping to establish the reputation of Wiltshaw & Robinson's Carlton Ware. As always, there is more than first meets the eye with our favourite pots.
© Harvey Pettit 2010
In the Summer of 1999, Helen Martin and Angela Dixon wrote an excellent four page article on Carlton Sprigged Ware for The Carlton Times. We provide a good quality facsimile of this article, which you can view by clicking here. The file size is 600KB and it will open in a new window. We would like to thank Helen Martin for permission to reproduce this excellent and well-researched article.
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© Harvey Pettit 2010
In the Summer of 1999, Helen Martin and Angela Dixon wrote an excellent four page article on Carlton Sprigged Ware for The Carlton Times. We provide a good quality facsimile of this article, which you can view by clicking here. The file size is 600KB and it will open in a new window. We would like to thank Helen Martin for permission to reproduce this excellent and well-researched article.
Scroll down for more news.
Friday 25 June 2010
Close Examination...
Next week, here in the UK, The National Gallery opens its exhibition called Close Examination:
Fakes Mistakes & Discoveries, which explores the ways in which advances in scholarship and technology can reveal misconceptions of the past and how over the years even museum curators have been misled.
Fakes Mistakes & Discoveries, which explores the ways in which advances in scholarship and technology can reveal misconceptions of the past and how over the years even museum curators have been misled.
In our own way, Carlton Ware collectors can be duped into buying wrongly. Poorly researched articles can also lead to misconceptions; some we have read are simply made up! We don't have the resources of The National Gallery but our experts do what they can using their extensive knowledge gained over many years of investigative research.
The most convincing Carlton Ware fakes are those in which decorations are added to old original Carlton Ware at a later date.
We are fortunate at Carlton Ware World by having long- standing contact with those who worked at the pottery, although as time goes on Father Time takes them, or their memories, away from us.
Thankfully, they have freely shared their know-now and recollections with us, as those of you who have attended our Annual Get-together in Stoke-on-Trent will know. Their knowledge on what was made, or more importantly, as here, what was not made, is invaluable. As an example, we consider the cup & saucer above, decorated with a snooker player.
It was made at Copeland Street in the early 1970s, as part of a coffee set, which was only available in plain colours - as illustrated above. The print of the snooker player on the cup in question has been added very recently.
We are fortunate at Carlton Ware World by having long- standing contact with those who worked at the pottery, although as time goes on Father Time takes them, or their memories, away from us.
Thankfully, they have freely shared their know-now and recollections with us, as those of you who have attended our Annual Get-together in Stoke-on-Trent will know. Their knowledge on what was made, or more importantly, as here, what was not made, is invaluable. As an example, we consider the cup & saucer above, decorated with a snooker player.
It was made at Copeland Street in the early 1970s, as part of a coffee set, which was only available in plain colours - as illustrated above. The print of the snooker player on the cup in question has been added very recently.
The print is clearly of good quality, but somehow looks a little lost against the green ground.
A faker, surely would not go the expense of producing an elaborate print, so what is happening here?
The picture of the china tankard on the right explains all.
Our super-sleuthing has discovered that it was made by, or for, a company called Reflections, who we understand is no longer trading. No doubt, some unused lithographs or prints of the snooker player have found their way into other hands and used on old Carlton Ware. Clearly the print was intended to be applied against a white ground so that the green baize of the snooker table would show.
Inevitably, the cup and saucer appeared on eBay. It sold for £18.50 including p&p. Expect more!
A faker, surely would not go the expense of producing an elaborate print, so what is happening here?
The picture of the china tankard on the right explains all.
Our super-sleuthing has discovered that it was made by, or for, a company called Reflections, who we understand is no longer trading. No doubt, some unused lithographs or prints of the snooker player have found their way into other hands and used on old Carlton Ware. Clearly the print was intended to be applied against a white ground so that the green baize of the snooker table would show.
Inevitably, the cup and saucer appeared on eBay. It sold for £18.50 including p&p. Expect more!
Close Examination: Fakes Mistakes & Discoveries runs at The National Gallery 30 June -12 September 2010. Admission free.
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Monday 21 June 2010
The World Cup runneth over!
Several of our readers wrote to ask about the temporary image placed on our banner at the top of pages as a tribute to The World Cup.
It is an ashtray and part of Carlton Ware's British Sports Series, which belongs to the Heraldic China range.
Another CW football-related item was a model of the FA cup, previously called the English Cup. The example on the right celebrates Cardiff City's victory over Arsenal in 1927.
In true footballing spirit, Cardiff were pelted with leeks as the team bus arrived at Wembley. Items of Carlton Ware with dates are helpful to us. This one establishes that Carlton Heraldic China is still being made in 1927.
The match of that year was the first cup final to be broadcast live on BBC radio. The phrase 'Back to Square One' was coined at the 1927 FA Cup final as the radio commentators used a grid published in the Radio Times to describe the match action - and square one was the area nearest to one of the goals.
We apologize to the many non-football fans for posting this article! "Some people think that football is a matter of life and death.... It's far more important than that!" (Bill Shankly)
It is an ashtray and part of Carlton Ware's British Sports Series, which belongs to the Heraldic China range.
Another CW football-related item was a model of the FA cup, previously called the English Cup. The example on the right celebrates Cardiff City's victory over Arsenal in 1927.
In true footballing spirit, Cardiff were pelted with leeks as the team bus arrived at Wembley. Items of Carlton Ware with dates are helpful to us. This one establishes that Carlton Heraldic China is still being made in 1927.
The match of that year was the first cup final to be broadcast live on BBC radio. The phrase 'Back to Square One' was coined at the 1927 FA Cup final as the radio commentators used a grid published in the Radio Times to describe the match action - and square one was the area nearest to one of the goals.
We apologize to the many non-football fans for posting this article! "Some people think that football is a matter of life and death.... It's far more important than that!" (Bill Shankly)
If we get enough requests, we will include a sound clip of the Vuvuzelas... and a pair of free earplugs!
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Thursday 17 June 2010
Far Sited!
Carlton Ware World is the best source of accurate information on our favourite pottery but it is not the only useful website.
Because Carlton Ware is such an important and significant twentieth century pottery there are of course other sites and we list the more relevant ones on our links page, although some are very out of date.
Because Carlton Ware is such an important and significant twentieth century pottery there are of course other sites and we list the more relevant ones on our links page, although some are very out of date.
One site that has come to prominence recently is nicholnack.com.au, an Australian commercial site offering for sale rare Australian pottery and fine art ceramics: Royal Doulton, Royal Winton, Clarice Cliff & The Giants of Australian Pottery and of course Carlton Ware.
We can recommend that you take of a tour of this excellent Australian site, though we are unable to vouch for its accuracy, because it would take us too long! Navigating through larger websites to get to the information you want is often difficult and some may find this the case here. To help you do this, Ian and Jerome, in their Newsletter 49 will tell you how.
We can recommend that you take of a tour of this excellent Australian site, though we are unable to vouch for its accuracy, because it would take us too long! Navigating through larger websites to get to the information you want is often difficult and some may find this the case here. To help you do this, Ian and Jerome, in their Newsletter 49 will tell you how.
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Monday 14 June 2010
New Book & Price Guide on Carlton Ware
A much grander hardback edition
A much grander hardback edition
There is soon to a coffee-table book on Carlton Ware from Czez & Yvonne Kosniowski, who self-published a Pocket Guide to Carlton Ware in 2005 and a Carlton Ware Catalogue & Price Guide in 2006. The authors tell us that it is to be a much grander hardback edition.
The Kosniowskis are relatively new to collecting Carlton Ware but we look forward to this new publication.
The authors have come to realize that a comprehensive book on the Copeland Street pottery is a tall order. In a recent progress report on their book, the authors told us: -
We have had to make some changes as the book was getting longer and longer. This would
have resulted in a massively long book and a corresponding massive price tag. We have
now made several cuts to the contents and the book is going to be a reasonable size.
It is to be A4 in size and 224 pages long.
The authors continue: -
With each picture we have included the source of the picture and a guide price for the
item. Most of the pictures are of Carlton Ware from our collection.
When we receive a copy, we will review it for you. Hopefully, the new book will do Carlton Ware proud and provide us with lots of new unpublished information.
All copies will be personally signed by the authors, who tell us: - to just make it that bit extra special and personal.
The Kosniowskis are relatively new to collecting Carlton Ware but we look forward to this new publication.
The authors have come to realize that a comprehensive book on the Copeland Street pottery is a tall order. In a recent progress report on their book, the authors told us: -
We have had to make some changes as the book was getting longer and longer. This would
have resulted in a massively long book and a corresponding massive price tag. We have
now made several cuts to the contents and the book is going to be a reasonable size.
It is to be A4 in size and 224 pages long.
The authors continue: -
With each picture we have included the source of the picture and a guide price for the
item. Most of the pictures are of Carlton Ware from our collection.
When we receive a copy, we will review it for you. Hopefully, the new book will do Carlton Ware proud and provide us with lots of new unpublished information.
All copies will be personally signed by the authors, who tell us: - to just make it that bit extra special and personal.
Scroll down for more news.
Saturday 12 June 2010
Our May Dorset Gathering
We always seem blessed with glorious weather at our meetings, as was the case at our Dorset Gathering in May. As you can see from the pictures above there was lots of sun and of course lots of Carlton Ware. If you would like to read two personal accounts of the weekend then click here to read Tony's account and click here to read Derek & Jane's.
Don't forget to view our Meetings page for details on future events. Two remain for this year, our Cheshire meeting next month and our Premiere Staffordshire Annual Get-together in October.
Reserve your places now by simply clicking on the links on our Meetings page
Don't forget to view our Meetings page for details on future events. Two remain for this year, our Cheshire meeting next month and our Premiere Staffordshire Annual Get-together in October.
Reserve your places now by simply clicking on the links on our Meetings page
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Thursday 10 June 2010
Hangman mugs
We have been asked about the Carlton Ware Hangman musical mug shown on the left, and in particular to throw light on its symbolism.
The hanging figure is dressed as a puritan, who like other protestant sects during the sixteenth century adopted a simplified form of dress. The group aspired to purity, which has led to ridicule because of its extremely strict religion and morals. This ridicule is typified in the mug.
The hanging figure is dressed as a puritan, who like other protestant sects during the sixteenth century adopted a simplified form of dress. The group aspired to purity, which has led to ridicule because of its extremely strict religion and morals. This ridicule is typified in the mug.
The rhyme on the back of the mug reads
There are several reasons for drinking
And one has just entered my head
If a man can't drink when he's living
How the h---! can he drink when he's dead?
Interestingly, Hell is not spelt in full, then being regarded as a swear word.
Presumably the devil handle represents temptation, and the gallows the consequences of sin, in this case drunkeness, which the puritans publically punished, although they were not opposed to drinking alcohol in moderation.
There are several reasons for drinking
And one has just entered my head
If a man can't drink when he's living
How the h---! can he drink when he's dead?
Interestingly, Hell is not spelt in full, then being regarded as a swear word.
Presumably the devil handle represents temptation, and the gallows the consequences of sin, in this case drunkeness, which the puritans publically punished, although they were not opposed to drinking alcohol in moderation.
The design for the mug was registered in 1936, as indicated by the Rd.No. 808852 printed on its base.
Notice the deep recess to contain the musical box, which in this case is removed for purposes of illustration.
The beer bottle on the side of the mug, surrounded by a wreath, has a Bass & Co label. This suggests, probably wrongly, that the mug may have been made for the Burton-on-Trent brewery. Bass light ale bottles were so well-known that they have also appeared in pictures by Manet and Picasso.
The red triangle, which appears on the bottle, was the first trademark to be registered in the UK (1875). Bass is now owned by global brewing giant AB InBev, the world's largest beer company. Bass is thought to be up for sale, so, if after reading this, you have developed a thirst, make an offer. A glass of AB Inbev does not sound too inviting!
The red triangle, which appears on the bottle, was the first trademark to be registered in the UK (1875). Bass is now owned by global brewing giant AB InBev, the world's largest beer company. Bass is thought to be up for sale, so, if after reading this, you have developed a thirst, make an offer. A glass of AB Inbev does not sound too inviting!
We would like to thank eBay seller benson2animals for permission to use the pictures above.
Matching Hangman mug
A matching Hangman mug without the recess for a music box was also made. We show a plainly decorated example below with pictures of the bases to both models illustrating the two different recesses. Notice on this plainly decorated version the addition of the words Last Drop beneath the hanging man! Only the faces of the devil and puritan are decorated, in this instance over a silky matt white glaze.
Fake Hangman mug
The Hangman mug has been faked, either being made from an original mould, or from a new mould made from from an original mug. Below are some pictures of one. Notice that the rhyme is printed more simply and the decoration inferior.
Simpler Version
A simplified and smaller version of the Hangman mug was introduced a few years later, with much less, decoration. This is shown on the left and was given the shape number 1972.
The devil has been replaced with a more conventional loop handle. The same rhyme is used on the obverse, although capital letters are not picked out in red raised enamel. The gallows, puritan, hat and grass are embossed as on the previous examples. This mug sometimes appears with a view of a well known Canadian place such as Niagara Falls, Ambassadors Bridge, or Casa Loma, Toronto. These replace the representation of the Bass bottle and wreath placed on the side of the mug.
The devil has been replaced with a more conventional loop handle. The same rhyme is used on the obverse, although capital letters are not picked out in red raised enamel. The gallows, puritan, hat and grass are embossed as on the previous examples. This mug sometimes appears with a view of a well known Canadian place such as Niagara Falls, Ambassadors Bridge, or Casa Loma, Toronto. These replace the representation of the Bass bottle and wreath placed on the side of the mug.
And yet another on the same theme.
A plain tankard was also decorated along similar lines. Here the embossed puritan is replaced with a print of a figure of a modern man. The wreath, bottle and rhyme were the same prints used on the previous examples.
Clearly these mugs were popular and the simpler and thus cheaper versions were probably made in large numbers. It is extraordinary that after four hundred years the puritan in his clothes remains an enduring image.
© Harvey Pettit & Helen Martin 2010.
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