What is Australian pottery?

I thought for the first post it would probably be best to start from  the start and ask the question.

What is Australian pottery?

Now, you think that would be an easy question to answer but the truth of the matter is that I have procrastinated on what to write in response to my own question for more time than I care to let you know.

Why? Well because it’s not an easy question to answer. These two simple words “Australian” and “Pottery” are so easy to define on their own but put together they mean so many different things to each and every one of us as collectors.

To some, like Geoff and Kerrie Ford from the National Museum of Australian Pottery, Australian pottery means domestic wares made by Australian companies that started operation before the end of the first world war in 1919. To others, like Judith Pearce and David Rofe from the Australian Pottery at Bemboka gallery it’s almost all about post 1960’s, art and craft potters producing stunning and often one of a kind creations. You really couldn’t find two more opposite examples than that and yet still call both collectors of essentially the same subject.

And me? Well I sit somewhere in-between with pieces in my collection dating from the late 19th century right up to the modern day (for the record my oldest piece is a Lithgow Pottery jelly mold and the most recent a David Usher bowl from 2002)  but to be honest with you all I do prefer to stick between the great wars with what I will term commercial art wares from companies like Remued, Mashman, Fowler, Melrose and of course my great love the Newtone range of wares produced by Bakewells in the 1930’s.

To me Australian pottery is what it is. A fascinating subject so diverse that you couldn’t possibly know it all and if you did, you are probably kidding yourself.

Please leave a comment and let me know what Australian Pottery mean to you?