Archive for the ‘Les Blakebrough’ tag

Finds #3 – Derek Smith Pedestal Bowl

Gold lustre Derek Smith Pedestal Bowl.

With a full time job and helping with my partners Salamanca market stall on Saturdays it’s not often these days that I get a chance to do a little snooping around the op shops, and Antique shops of Hobart. Rarer than finding the time to go treasure hunting is, finding a treasure when I do go hunting.

I am very happy to report that recently I did have had a chance to get to a shop or two (albeit on the way home from a doctors appointment) and I DID find a treasure indeed! The Derek Smith pedestal vase pictured above is the latest addition to my all too long list of keepers (for the moment).

Standing about 16cm high and 13cm across the top it’s not a terribly imposing piece but it’s big enough to get noticed especially since it’s more than 3/4 gilded and mirror reflective!

There is not much I can add to the Derek Smith story that isn’t already covered by Judith at Australian Pottery at Bemboka on her Australian Pottery 1960’s to Date blog here: Known potter #10: Derek Smith.

Over on Flickr you will find the Identifying Australian Pottery 1960s to Date group which is also run by Judith which had a dedicated Astrix (*) topic dedicated to Derek Smith and a comprehensive list of the marks used throughout his career here: * Derek Smith.

Derek Smith is a Tasmanian icon of modern pottery surpassed only by Les Blakebrough in his celebrity to the point that if you were to tell a shop keeper down here that you collected Modern Tasmanian pottery the answer almost invariably comes back “do you collect Blakebrough or Derek Smith?” although having said that it can be a bit difficult to get anyone down here to look past the standard Campbell and McHugh.

Tim

Derek Smith Potters Mark

Out and About #1 – Saddlers Court Gallery

Last week, while entertaining some mainland visitors,  we decided to take the lovely drive out to the historic town of Richmond (about 30 minutes drive from Hobart) for a spot of lunch before  dropping our guests at the airport for  their long trip home.

On the way back to the car after lunch we managed a quick stop off at Saddlers Court Gallery for a look at some fine modern Tasmanian, Australian pottery. The gallery contains works by Derek Smith, Sue Stack, Panogana Pottery by Bill Thomas, Zsolt Faludi, and Mark Knight just to mention a few and is well worth a look if you are visiting Richmond. The Saddlers Court website also says they carry pieces by Les Blakebrough but I didn’t see any on my visit. Having said that I’m not sure how up to date their site is as they don’t mention Mark Knight despite a comprehensive  range being available in the gallery.

Set of Mark Knight Cannisters

I will also mention that there is far more to see at the Gallery than just Tasmanian pottery. There is also an interesting selection of paintings, prints, art glass, large and small works in wood as well as jewelery. All up more than 100 different Tasmanian artists and crafts people are represented at Saddlers Court.

The gallery is open from 10pm to 5pm daily and will open after hours for organised groups by prior arrangement only.