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| Left: Poole Delphis platters by Jean Millership, 1966-1969, Photograph from Robs Poole Pottery Right: Packaging design for Poole Pottery |
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| Spear shaped sweet dishes by Various Artists |
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| Pin dishes, Left to right: Carole Holden, 1968-69, Unsigned, 1962-64, Angela Wyburgh, 1968, Photograph from Robs Poole Pottery |
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| Pin dishes, Left to right: Carol Cutler 1969-76, Carol Cutler 1969-76, Geraldine O'Meara, 1966 Photograph from Robs Poole Pottery |
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| Platters, Left to right: Shirley Campbell, 1966-69, Carolyn Bartlett, 1966, Jean Millership, 1966-69 Photograph from Robs Poole Pottery |
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| Left: Right: Vase by Lynn Gregory, Platter by Carol Cutler, 1966-76 Photograph from Robs Poole Pottery |
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| Vases, Left to Right: Cynthia Bennet, Valerie Pullen, Ros Summerfelt Photograph from Robs Poole Pottery |
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| Vases, Left to Right: Judy Evens, Carol Cutler, Christie Tate Photograph from Robs Poole Pottery |
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| Left: vase by Angela Wyburgh, Right: Various stacked Delphis silhouettes |
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| Left to Right: Carol Cutler, Angela Wynburgh, The Poole stamp on bottom of pieces during the Delphis era Photograph from Robs Poole Pottery |
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| Pots, Left to right: Both by Jean Millership Photograph from Robs Poole Pottery |
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| Carved Delphis bowls by various artists including Pamela Bevans, Patricia Wells, Angela Wyburgh and Patricia Churchouse, 1966-70 Photograph from Robs Poole Pottery |
When does one start becoming a collector, Are you born with
this gene already in your genetic makeup, Is it learnt by our parents or is it
a result of not getting everything you wanted as a kid so the need to collect becomes
stronger as you get older. We all know someone’s mother who collects eggcups or
teaspoons or everything that has to do with pigs for instance, Why do they do it?
For me, my first collection started with ceramics and I have
always said it’s one of the most dangerous things you can collect with the
constant fear of it always breaking in the back of your mind, Maybe that’s why
in a strange way people that collect breakables want to live with that constant
risk? My first collection started with discovering a piece of ceramic in my
early teens that had the mark Poole on the bottom. I was intrigued by it’s amazing
glaze, it’s fluidity in design, it’s smoothness, and it’s vibrancy. I came to
learn later that it was part of what they call The Delphis range.
For people who know me well, they know that I have been
collecting Poole for years. I collect all era’s of Poole but as there is such
a large catalog, for this post I will stick to The Delphis range. Poole as a
company is located in Dorset, In England. Now owned by Denby, The Company was originally founded in 1873 on Poole quayside, where
it continued to produce pottery by hand before moving its factory operations
away from the quay in 1999.
"Delphis" Studio wares
are easily recognized: it is labeled psychedelic, with vibrant colors and
designs inspired by artists such as Mondrian, Warhol, Matisse and Pollock. Launched in 1963,
was initially conceived by Guy Sydenham and Robert Jefferson and later
developed by Jefferson and Tony Morris, One of the most famous of the many artisans
who worked with Poole over the years.
The Delphis range used a black
wax resist technique to delineate abstract patterns. Every piece is
pretty much unique, with designs created by the decorators themselves, and with
serendipity playing a big part too. Marketed as
"irreproducible", this was true freedom of expression that befits the
1960’s.
To encourage this experimentation
and creativity initially each decorator would be given a few hours a week to
produce their own work, be it models, tile panels, any artistic output they
wanted. However, Delphis became such a commercial success that demand
began to encroach on these creative freedoms with over time been introduced and
later with the painters terms of work changed in 1972 from an hourly rate
to piece work.
On the bottom of each piece it is
clearly signed by the Artist and you can collect based on knowing whose designs
you respond too the most, For me I always like Carol Cutler’s work, Her
signature was CC.
Hope you enjoy looking at these
amazing pieces, A great source is a website called www.robspoolepottery.co.uk
Check it out, Rob has an amazing collection of Poole and his site is truly inspirational.
Helpful article. Thank you. I've just acquired a Poole - Delphis vase - barbell shaped with an S signature. Would you have any idea which artist that might be? Please and thanks. :)
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