We received a pleasant surprise in the post this morning - the latest (May/June) edition of Antiques Info magazine, containing another of our articles and a selection of photographs from our archives.
The article is “20th Century Ceramics: Are We Exporting Our Legacy?”, and takes a look at current collecting trends for Carlton Ware and Wedgwood lustre wares, observing how many of the finer examples of these pieces are presently being sold to overseas collectors.
The article has been well-illustrated with a range of photos from our archives and those of Antiques Info, and this is always one of the more interesting antiques magazines on the market, with lots of good quality information. It’s well worth a look if you are passing a newsagents.
We should have one or two more articles appearing in various antiques and collectable magazines in coming months - I’ll post updates here as and when they are published as the dates aren’t all fixed yet.
Poole Pottery’s current troubles have raised interest in the pottery, according to auctioneer John Condie of Cottees in Dorset. The well-known auction house holds two specialist Poole sales each year at its Wareham saleroom, and is currently preparing for its April 28 Poole sale, at which more than 600 lots will be on offer.
The lots on sale range from early Carter, Stabler & Adams (CSA) wares right through to pottery produced shortly before the factory’s closure. Amongst the most desirable pieces are a model of the distinctive “Harry Page” galleon - designed by Harold Stabler and instantly recognisable as a symbol of the Poole Pottery.
Full details in this Bournemouth Echo article.
I came across an interesting article today about Guy Sydenham, one of Poole’s best-known 20th century designers and head of design at Poole Pottery from 1966-1977. Particularly well-known for his Freeform designs, he also was responsible for the increasingly-popular Atlantis range, as well as much other work.
The commercial pressures of working at Poole eventually took their toll on him, and it was to his own studio that he retreated. A recent exhibition at the Dorset County Museum in Dorchester showcased a mixture of his own work and that from his time at Poole, and the Poole Room blog has an excellent write-up of the exhibition, including photos of some of the more unusual pieces that were on display.
April’s newsletter has just gone live on the main site - follow the link on the menu bar above or click here to read about some rare Pendelfin we’ve recently acquired and to get another chance to see our illustrated guide to packaging pottery. We also take a brief look at two potteries which both ceased to exist as we know them last year - Pendelfin & Poole Pottery.
As always, any comments are more than welcome - just leave them below or click here to email us.
One of Pendelfin’s leading designers, Doreen Roberts, has died, aged 77. She first met Pendelfin founder Jean Walmsley Heap through the Burnley Art Society, which she joined in the late 1940s. Doreen subsequently joined the Pendelfin team and was responsible for many memorable rabbit designs, including Jingle, Muncher and Phumf.
Doreen was also responsible for many of the Pendelfin display stands, including Castle Tavern, the highly collectable Christmas Scene (only made for one year) and Cobble Cottage.
Doreen Noel Roberts continued to work at Pendelfin right up until the company’s sale in March 2006, when UK production of the rabbits ceased and the company’s Burnley premises closed.