Classic Art Ware - Debateable origins

[islandretro]

I have been thinking about and discussing with various collectors the origins of Classic Art Ware pottery for quite some time now, and since the publication of the 2nd People's Potteries book and the attribution of the label to John Barnard Knight, and subsequently the attribution of some CAW pieces to JBK in an upcoming Australian Pottery auction, I have decided to "go public" in the hope of flushing some information, or at least informative debate out of the woodwork 🙂

As I have said else where, I don't agree with Dorothy Johnstons attribution of this label to John Barnard Knight, a Melbourne potter associated with the label Janet Grey. I, (and others, not having come to this conclusion in isolation, I have talked to various collectors), believe there is a connection with Delamere Art Pottery from Sydney; whether this was a label attached to their wares sold through a certain outlet or a range they sold themselves similarly to Diana's Hollywood or Pate's Regent labels no one is sure.







Anyway - here are some photos for you to see labels on various CAW pieces that have always been attributed to Delamere (except the Koalas which are attributed only to CAW and the frog in the 1st pic which has a Delamere sticker). Aside from this there is continuity of glaze colour, and various motifs common over CAW and Delamere attributed pieces I can post pics of as well if anyone is interested, to support this theory.

Hoping there are some other CAW/Delamere collectors reading who might have info to share

cheers
Rae

[kooriflag]

Hi Kat,

It looks like the base on yours was meant to be the same but may have warped in the kiln. Not everything works to plan in firing pottery but if it didn't explode they still sold them back then,

Cheers,
Pip

[oldworldlady]

I should think all I need to do is pencil in a big S on the base and put some dots round it.

Whaddya reckon? ]:)

Thanks very much for the info, Pip. I've got a few of the gnome bits and the tree nightlight thingy.

[kitty-kat1234]

You Ladies are sooooooooooo nortie:-p

[siddieswans]

So could this be Beattie or Beauty then

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/12716820/aview/IMG_1981.JPG


No gnomes though (that's quite hard to say); just bunnies and mushrooms and gum nuts.
Sorry no picture of the base at present; I THINK there are no markings on the base, which from memory is flat. (I could check tomorrow - it's in another place.)

[kitty-kat1234]

Thanks GORGEOUS,think i may have swaped sides]:):^O

[kooriflag]

Hi siddieswans,

Yes that's another one,

Pip

[nett_nanny]

OWL, I think that koala vase might be Beattie pottery, DJ has pics of gnomes on a very similar stump with similar coloured glazes; in the same coloured plate (no 56 in the 1st book) she has a small koala pin dish with the same koala and leaves and gumnuts as yours, although she doesn't attribute it to Beattie Pottery (or anyone), I would hazard a guess that is what it is

cheers
Rae

Rae and others,

As a sign of respect for a published author, please refer to Dorothy Johnston by her full name and not DJ.

New Australian pottery collectors may be reading this board and wouldn't have a clue who you were referring to by initials alone.

Thank you kindly.

[islandretro]

you are on the ball, nett nanny, that is the first and only time I have ever done that - my only excuse is that I am not a fast typist and I was rushing out the door when I posted that. I was only thinking of my response to OWL who I knew would know to what I was referring.

My apologies to anyone confused by my post, for those who don't know, the book I am referring to is Dorothy Johnston's "The Peoples Potteries: Stories of the Art Potteries of Sydney - Post WWII" self published in 2002, an extremely informative book on the topic.

cheers
Rae

[kitty-kat1234]

Hopefull by the end off the week i will have my budgie i bought.

To my eye it is a centre piece to the bowl with the budgie in.
1 is shown in Rae's first few posts & luckly i have one also to compare with..
cheers

[islandretro]

Have you got a picture or an item number Kat? I have only seen the budgie attached to the vase or the base of the bowl, not freestanding.

cheers
Rae