Posts from the ‘United Kingdom’ Category

May 16

Beswick Zorba 1960s

The pattern “Zorba” was designed by Graham Tongue in the late 1960’s at Beswick.

It also comes in a pale Olive Green colour, but this “mission brown” colour brings out the pattern much better I think. I like the shapes of the pieces in this range too – especially the cups.

Beswick also made some other great retro designs during this period including “Apollo” and “Orbit” – All very space age retro.

Royal Doulton took over the Beswick factory in 1969 and in 1975 Graham Tongue became the head modeller at the Beswick and added many new characters to their range of Figurines in the 1980’s.

The Beswick factory closed in 2003 and much of the Royal Doulton production was moved overseas, because it was no longer commercially viable.

Beswick Zorba

Beswick Zorba Coffee Pot

Beswick Zorba

May 10

Royal Doulton Basque

This oh so seventies looking design was produced at the Lambeth factory of Doulton between 1974 and 1981.

Going by the number of pieces from the set for sale on various online shops still, it must have been a very popular pattern.

Its easy to see the design is classic seventies even without knowing much about it.

It has the loveliest dark chocolate brown coloured glaze- a colour often called “mission brown” in its day when it was often used as a paint trim colour in houses.

The design consists of a subtle design of country flowers in a basket. The glaze has a great sheen and smoothness to it as well.
I like the shape of the pieces too, solid but with rounded edges and with nice proportions – quintessentially British.

Being stoneware it is very tough as well. I have seen photographs of several other patterns by Doulton using this form as well, but Basque stands out from the others.

Royal Doulton Basque

Royal Doulton Basque Mark

May 10

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Poole Cameo Celadon

Poole Cameo Celadon, 1950s and 1960s.

Firstly a brief background about Poole from a site which is no longer up (Poole Pottery.org)

“Poole Pottery was established in 1873 by Jesse Carter. In the 1920’s, Jesse Carter went into partnership with Harold Stabler and John Adams, forming a company known as “Carter Stabler Adams” and this company in turn, eventually became known as Poole Pottery. Production continued at the Poole Quayside factory until 1999, when it moved to Sopers Lane. The factory closed in 2006, but it has recently restarted production under new ownership”

…And from the very informative site, Poole Twintone.co.uk by Anne Wilkinson – a whole website devoted to this sub set of Poole pottery.

“Poole Pottery (Carter, Stabler and Adams) produced two-coloured tableware from the 1930s, but had to stop production during World War Two. When they re-launched the range in the late 1940s, they named it Twintone. Twintone was used on three shapes of tableware, many table accessories and a whole host of decorative ware right up to 1981”

“Not all Poole tableware of the mid-20th century is Twintone, even if it appears to come in two colours. Twintone glazes are described as ‘semi-matt’ or ‘vellum’ because of their smooth feel and soft sheen, and they always come in two distinctive colours.

Other glazes used on Poole tableware are sometimes known as Cameo. Cameo glazes have a much higher gloss and are always paired with white. Many Twintone pieces can be identified by the ‘C number’ on their base, which defines the colour combination”

Read more about the story of the twintone range on Anne’s Website above where you can also purchase a book she has written on Poole Twintone.

The images below are pieces I have had, and are a combination of: Read more