May 7
This now quite rare series consisted of 5 very bold designs with completely different designs, and one of them was SARK - which I have only ever come across in person once previously. Each of the series was made in several colours - Honey, Grey, Blue, Green, Brown and Orange.
Apr 4
Roy Midwinter (1922-1990) left the Midwinter Pottery in 1981 and moved to Federated Potteries in Stoke on Trent. (Midwinter Pottery was owned by Wedgwood post 1970 and closed in 1987).
While at Federated Potteries Roy designed a striking, but little known range of patterns including “Safari” (1986) pictured below, which echoed an increasing public interest in the designs of the 1950s.
Other designs by Roy Midwinter at Federated Potteries during this period were Calypso, Fireball and Tropicana – all with the nod to the 1950’s but having a much more 1980s or Memphis Style vibe to them I think.
Safari is by far my favourite.
Roy Midwinter Safari
Mar 15
This charming pattern from Arabia Finland, designed by Esteri Tomula is called “Malva”. The dinnerware series was in production 1964 to 1979 and features a stylised floral pattern, which was one Esteri’s favourite subjects – which I have written about in a previous post .
The design features central floral elements surrounded by leaves in typical Arabia Finland blue, rendered with a beautiful line drawing style typical of many of Esteri’s designs.
Esteri’s output was prolific after moving to the Arabia product development department in the 1960s where she created over 150 patterns, some of which were were:
The Botanica-series (1978-89), Primavera (1970-74), Sinilehti (1970-74), Elsa (1971-72), Irina (1971-72), Mira (1971-72), Ansa (1971-72), Vanamo (1973-74), Aurinko (1973-74), Gardenia (1973-74), Varpu (1971-73), Helluntai (1971-73), Aprilli (1971-73), Marja (1973), Vegeta (1966-early 70’s), Rosette (1983), Sinikello (1984-87), Raita (1971-73), Katrilli (1975-77), Kartano (1973-76), Krokus (1978-79), Flora (1979-81), Polar (1978-85).
Here in Australia the designs we tend to see most often by Esteri are the Botanica series, Krokus, and Flora…so it is always a delight when one of the less well known designs like this one pop up.
