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Sunday, January 9, 2011

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Saturday, January 8, 2011

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Friday, January 7, 2011

Poole Pottery - A Potted History


The history of the Poole Pottery can be traced back to 1873, when Jesse Carter purchased the East Quay Pottery in Poole from James Walker, after that gentleman's pottery business went bankrupt. Jesse Carter's background was as a successful builders merchant in Surrey, but he believed that the architectural ceramics business offered a profitable future and determined to put all his efforts into this. Moving to the area with his family, two of whom were to play a major role in the future of the pottery, he began to work. By the 1880s, Carter & Company had become very well established locally, overshadowing some longer established local companies and beginning to encroach on the territory of some of the well known Staffordshire potteries.

At this time, the output of the Poole Pottery was revolved around decorative tiling and other architectural pottery, such as fire surrounds. Carter & Co's wide range of decorative tiles were being widely used in shops, pubs and hotels, as well as for advertising and mosaic flooring.

Growth of Decorative Output

Following Carter's death in 1901, control of the pottery fell to his two sons, Charles and Owen. Over the next twenty years, the output of the company changed to include a growing variety of decorative wares, and the end result of this was the formation of Carter, Stabler & Adams in 1921 as a subsidiary of Carter & Company.

Harold and Phoebe Stabler and John and Truda Adams brought between them a wealth of creative experience in design, modelling and decoration and the mission of the CSA company was to produce decorative and table wares from the East Quay works in Poole.

Over the next forty years, the Carter, Stabler & Adams company proved very successful, producing a very wide variety of decorative and domestic wares. One of the most easily recognisable and successful CSA styles is that of the red earthenware body with a white slip ground and a clear glaze.

From Red Earthenware to Freeform

This style was used until the mid-thirties, when C.S.A. moved to using white clay bodies, probably because they were more suitable for tableware than the red earthenware bodies were. The decorative pieces were all hand painted with patterns that were largely the work of Truda Adams. These colourful and stylish patterns played a key part in the success of CSA and have endured superbly, still looking fresh and attractive today. CSA's output during the 20s and 30s also included a range of skilfully modelled pieces, often by Harold Stabler or John Adams. Today these models have become highly collectable and hard to find in perfect condition.

As the nation recovered from WWII, and pottery production began again, the ranges of white earthenware that had been so successful in the past were now seen to be almost unmanageably complex. These were now rationalised, to become known as Traditional ware, with three levels of decoration - elaborate, medium and simple.

Just as in their time, the Truda Adams designs had captured the Art Deco style of the 1920s and 30s, something new was needed to reflect the new styles of the 1950s. Several new ranges were introduced, but by far the most striking and successful were the Free Form range of patterns and shapes. Poole Pottery freeform was distinguished by a very modern new range of shapes, mixing angles and curves to create completely new shapes, as well as variations on more traditional shapes.

A New Generation of Talent

Alfred Read and Guy Sydenham were the driving force behind this range of shapes, and many of the early freeform patterns were also Alfred Read designs, with both Read and Sydenham being responsible for throwing the new shapes. Especially notable were the decorating talents of Ruth Pavely and Ann Read. Ruth Pavely was Head of Painting at the Poole Pottery for many years, and her mark can be seen on some of the finest Poole Pottery pieces of the 1950s, as can Ann Read's.

Freeform proved to be just what the doctor ordered for the Poole Pottery, and was very successful throughout the 1950s. Today, fans of 1950s design are keen to collect Poole Freeform shapes and the better examples of these pieces command strong values.

The Launch of Delphis & Aegean Ware - Studio Pottery From A Factory?

In the early 1960s a new range of studio ware was released - the Delphis range. This featured bold, colourful designs on new shapes created by Poole's new star designers, Robert Jefferson and Tony Morris. The Delphis range proved popular and once more in keeping with the spirit of the times and remained in production, with many variations, until the mid-1970s.

Delphis ware was followed by Aegean ware. Designed by Leslie Elsden, it provided a fitting culmination to his 50 year career at Poole Pottery. Much of the Aegean range was decorated using either the silhouette or sgraffito techniques, and the extensive use of browns, oranges and yellows gave the Aegean pieces a very distinctive character. While some shapes were shared with the Delphis and other ranges, both Delphis and Aegean ware have very distinctive and easily recognisable characters.

The Future For Poole Pottery

Poole Pottery sadly went bankrupt for a second and final time in December 2006, and although its remains have found a buyer, it looks like pottery production in Poole has probably come to an end. Fortunately, today's collectors are lucky enough to have a huge legacy of pottery to draw upon, which will hopefully be preserved for future generations.








Perfect Pieces specialises in British pottery from the last 100 years, and has a wide selection of Poole Pottery for sale on its website.

We also provide a free Poole Price guide for visitors and a comprehensive free guide to Poole Pottery Marks. Visit the the Perfect Pieces website for more information or to contact us.


Thursday, January 6, 2011

Pottery Classes for Enthusiasts


Pottery is a very old art of making wonderful objects with clay. Today pottery making has come up as a growing interest among people of all ages. In order to build an overview for keen lovers of pottery, we will shed some light over the techniques used in pottery making. With the growing interest and popularity of this craft, there are several classes organized by professional potters all over the world.

In a pottery class you come to learn a step wise methodology for making wonderful pottery ware. This starts with the quality of clay used, and how to prepare this clay. Pottery making is not just an art, but a science. There are various characteristics of clay depending on the composition, and pottery classes teach students to use a balanced combination of water and other solutions in their preparation. Pottery classes also teach you to choose the right kind of potter's wheel and to learn the techniques for operating and making pottery with it. It is very important to choose the right kind of wheel and to learn to maintain the balance of applied pressure while turning the wheel.

The most important step is to mold the object into a desired shape. You come to learn the art of molding clay with simple movements of your hands. In the pottery class, it is essential to learn various hand movements so that you are able to create various pottery wares. A simple change in hand posture can change the entire look of the pottery ware you are trying to make. After making an object, the next step that we learn in the pottery class is how to use the kiln. It is really important to put the object at a suitable temperature to produce a solid finished state of pottery. Here also, one can see the scientific aspect of pottery making. It is important to heat the pottery object to an accurate heating point in order for it to solidify in a sturdy manner to produce a rigid, solid, and durable product.

After the heating process, pottery classes help you to learn how to decorate your pottery. This procedure is known as glazing. Here we learn various kinds of paints, sprays and decorating techniques that enhance the look of pottery. Carving and engraving are also methods used to turn the pottery into wonderful pieces of art. At this stage, a person's artistic skills are challenged, together with his pottery making skills, and so pottery becomes an exercise in creativity.

Pottery making classes are available for the various people for different levels. We can choose class options according to our level of skills and interests. There are classes for children and for amateurs. There are also classes for people who are looking to brush up their previously learned skills. Decoration is an aspect that is simple yet very important. Imagination and creativity shine through and can be finely seen in the work pieces. Pottery is simply a method that can be learned, but the interest of a person and his imagination are also a shaping factor.








Victor Epand is an expert consultant for pottery, antiques, and figurines. When shopping for pottery, antiques and figurines, we recommend only the best online stores for Pottery Classes, antiques, and figurines.


Polish Pottery Answers To Common Questions


What is Polish Pottery?

You've seen in on the Internet, you've seen it on QVC, perhaps you've seen select pieces in stores or magazines. What's all the hub bub about it and what in the world is it?

What is it?

Polish Pottery is a hand-made ceramic pottery that is hand decorated with stamps. Products range from dinnerware sets, serving pieces, bakeware, bowls, containers, tea and coffee services to accessories such as vases, pitchers and cookie jars, to name a few. What makes it distinctive is the beautiful hand-stamped designs.

Polish farmers created these traditional designs with inspiration from the peacock feather. Using the colors of cobalt blue, peacock blue and earth tones added beauty and color to an otherwise plain and simple lifestyle. Over the years the technique of using handmade stencils to create the designs has become a form of art passed down to new generations.

Is it just for show or can I really use it?

Definitely use it! It is some of the best cooking stoneware that I have ever used. I have cooked pies, lasagnas, casseroles and various other meals in them. Cooking with this pottery has exceeded my expectations. Another advantage is that I don't need to transfer the meal to another "pretty" dish for serving.

One of my male friends asked his wife to buy some of the coffee cups because they kept his coffee warm for a long time.

Is it safe?

Each ceramic dish is made of white clay and is lead and cadium free. The pottery is usable in dishwashers, conventional and microwave ovens. It is also very easy to clean.

IMPORTANT! - Each piece has a category on the bottom. Category 1 pottery is oven safe for up to 425 degrees F and Category 2 is oven safe for up to 325 degrees F. Category 3 and above should only be used for serving.

Where is it made?

The pottery is made in the town of Boleslawiec, approximately an hour and a half drive from Dresden, Germany. If you are in the area, it is definitely worth the trip as you can purchase the pottery for less than half the retail price in the U.S., and there are many more patterns to choose from. I would, however, advise not driving your own vehicle or rental car. I have found the town relatively safe except for the persistent car thefts. You can either hire a driver or take a bus trip. The town has shops all over including the factory where the pottery is made.

Where do I get it?

Fortunately, for those of you that can't get to Boleslawiec, it can be found on the Internet. One note of caution: having it shipped from Poland can be costly and result in damaged goods. Using a site such as http://polish-pottery.getdigitalinfo.com allows you to find pieces available to you locally. For those of you from the U.S., you can sometimes find Polish Pottery pieces at stores such as TJMaxx, Marshall's and Tuesday Morning.

Final thoughts

The pottery is not only beautiful for any table setting, it is also of high quality. You can stick with one pattern, mix and match patterns or just use select accessories with your current dishware. Additionally, polish pottery is a worldwide collectible that retains its value after purchase. It is definitely a pottery that you will want to hand down to your children. Whatever your need, I would highly recommend giving it a try.








Barb started collecting Polish Pottery with her first visit to Boleslawiec 5 years ago. She has spread her enthusiasm to her friends which led her to create The Polish Pottery Shoppe.
http://polish-pottery.getdigitalinfo.com


Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Learning To Make Pottery With Films


Pottery making is an almost 12 thousand year old art of making objects by molding clay. Pottery making is a wonderful combination of the potter's wheel and the balance maintained by the potter. There are various schools active in teaching the art of pottery. Today we have various short films introducing the art of ceramics to the common people. In these films you can learn the art of pottery making by watching it on your television or computer monitor.

Famous professional potters run the ceramics departments of various countries. Through films and videos they introduce us to various steps and prerequisites of pottery. They teach us to open the clay after understanding its various properties. Then we learn how to form various items through a range of hand movements and how to fire the clay in a kiln at the pertinent temperature for it to become pottery ware. Even decorating the pottery with paints is learned by simply watching the demonstrations. Today with numerous decorating techniques and beautiful designs, pottery has attracted people of all ages. Pottery has become a personal hobby. It takes a lot of hard work and patience but people interested in pottery have great fun making ceramics.

With the help of short films on pottery making we can fullfil our aspirations to make our own pottery objects without having to go to pottery classes. Pottery making films, involve a stepwise introduction to the art of pottery for beginners. Pottery making films can also be used as reference study material for those who are taking pottery classes. People who want to enhance their skills in pottery can also brush up with various demonstrations in the films. Pottery making films are a creation of the modern era that have augmented the personal interests of people towards the art of pottery.

The culture and resources of a country are the leading factors in deciding the styles and designs of pottery but the pottery making style of any country can be learned at home through pottery making films. Today, individually involved potters are into making pottery a thing of beauty. We can learn to make some of the masterpieces in ceramics by following the instructions of pottery making films. We can learn how to join two objects together e.g. a handle to a mug. A little effort mixed with personal approach to the piece of art can create some outstanding pieces of pottery.

In pottery making films we learn how to mold the clay, create balance with the clay ball and use the art of fingers in shaping the desired object. These films help us to create the concrete shape of pottery by teaching us how to heat the objects to make the finished product. After the heating process, painting and decoration of the ceramics with various colors and materials is another art that tells us about the imagination of the person and his approach towards pottery. All of this can be learned through films.








Victor Epand is an expert consultant for pottery, antiques, and figurines. When shopping for pottery, antiques and figurines, we recommend only the best online stores for pottery, films, antiques, and figurines