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]

Ah,

So you bought the Eagle...well done.  Good to hear from you with interesting news.  I have the fish too and the budgie and many more....but elf?? What elf ??  Pictures please, as we would love to see that, for all our sakes,

Regards,

Pip

[4ewesonly]

hi sorry for late reply, the bottom is marked with pencil.. heres the photo.

cheers.

[islandretro]

Hard to say with pencilled marks, could be done by anyone at anytime really, most likely by the shop it was sold from imo, not the maker 🙂 I have a set of 4 of these and they all have the same base, but no pencilled marks

cheers

Rae

[islandretro]

Thanks for posting, grottypots, we would love to see your photos. Although I have been very slack and haven't added to it for ages, this my blog on Delamere and CAW, if you haven't already come across it

http://dandcaw.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/delamere-art-pottery-and-classic-art.html

cheers

Rae

[grottypots]

Hi all, I have tried to download photos but two seems to be the maximum directly from my computer to this site without using photobucket.

these are two and i'll send more through separately once I know this works.

Cheers, Grottypots

[grottypots]

Hi again,

here is my magnificient Eagle.  He stands 12" or 30 cms tall and the bowl is roughly 11.5" or 28 cms wide.

flower rose gone crazy!

[grottypots]

these ones show a group shot and a signed Delamere Art vase with cherries??

[grottypots]

Hi,

these ones show the strange pixie. I purchased the bowl and the pixie late last year together and the other bowl I purchased 4 years ago on its own.  I have tried to show the base of the bowls and they are not the yellow gloss normally you find as they are mat white. The newest bowl also has a textured gloss finish and the colour is slightly different too but the pixie has the holes & colour like the eagle and the fish. What do you think?

[oldworldlady]

Ffabulous pictures, and thank you fpr posting them. I would think the vase has red grapes rather than cherries, but it doesn't really matter as it's fabulous either way.

Could the pixie be by another maker? The cold painted hat looks like Beauty, or am I thinking of another maker altogether, the one who made all the mushrooms with pixies.

Pip will know, or Rae.

The Eagle is wonderful!

[oldworldlady]

oops, please excuse the stutter. I meant Fabulous