Midwinter Nurseryware – Jessie Tait

This charming and now very nostalgic looking design is Midwinter “Nurseryware” c1955. Its designer, the incomparable Jessie Tait.

While the shapes here probably do not represent the complete range of this transfer printed design on the “Fashion Shape”  – you can get a good feel for the theme of the design. It is not known what other pieces there are with variations of this pattern, but Steven Jenkins in his authoritative book on Midwinter Pottery also mentions tankards with hand painted  pink elephants holding each others tails as part of the range.

The design is so much of its time – with motifs designed to appeal to boys such as trains, Indian headdress, cricket bat, aeroplanes, spinning tops etc. One would assume that a pattern was also produced with motifs appealing to girls, as much as this one would appeal to boys at the time.

If you have, or know of any other pieces in this series, I would love to see them.

UPDATE: May 2023 – Many thanks to Gail in the UK for sending through the images below to me, of an item from this series she found.  Love the Teddy Bear !