Early Staffordshire pearlware and creamware pottery figures

Vases

5/26/2011

Last week, this little vase sold at auction. I had photographed it in a private collection some years ago, so I was aware of its existence. It isn't spot-on my taste, but it is a beautiful little treasure nonetheless. You have to marvel at the intact gilding. Early gilding was very soft and barely stuck to the surface, so much of it has been lost over time. This vase is important because it is impressed TURNER beneath. William Turner of Lane End is recorded in trade directories between 1796 and 1834, but I can't recall seeing his mark on any other figure.

Far prettier to my mind is this pair of similarly styled figural vases that are/were in the stock of Martyn Edgell. Yellow is so eye-catching in pottery, and these two are charmingly cheerful. Beware if you go to Martyn's site: the experience is like going into a antiques shop in the days when they were packed with wonderful finds. You just don't know what you will discover that you MUST buy!

This is one of my favorite variations of the Turner vase and it is 'Sherratt style.' Note the distinctive applied sprig garlands to the base. I photographed it from the stock of Jim Dunn at Bittersweet Antiques a good while ago.

And once upon a time this variation was in the stock of Barbara Gair at Castle Antiques. Note that it has a bocage.

Isn't it fascinating to see how potters shared/copied and reused/adapted molds to meet the varying tastes of the market? Something for every eye and pocket, then and now.

7 Comments

Old-Bonez

7/6/2014 09:57:48 am

Ahhh ... a rare William Turner piece. The question here is did he share the mold or was it sold/passed on after his death. Many potters continued to produce Turner designs after the bankruptcy so was this yet another example of this?
I am interested in the Turner impression and was it any different to the pre bankrupcy impression.

Myrna

7/10/2014 08:54:36 am

I don't have an image of the Turner mark, but I recall it being poorly impressed in small uppercase letters. As for the mold, your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps Turner copied another potter's design or acquired another's mold....or perhaps it was the other way around!

Old-Bonez

7/10/2014 06:03:49 pm

Yes that is right Myrna it is simply impressed "TURNER" in the font Bookman. I have been researching the company for almost 12 years now and I'm a little surprised by this piece. Both William and his father John Turner were producing goods of Quality as well as run of the mill pieces.
Since this vase is impressed Turner then I'd say it was Turners mold that it was taken from. The closest thing I have seen to this is a black bassalt candlestick in the V&A museum. This is impressed Turner & Co so it dates abt 1802-5 http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O149099/candlestick-turner-co/
A lot of experts say that Turner Black Bassalts are superior to that of Wedgewood. His work is certainly impressive.
Note the difference in the Turner piece to the others ... The ridge around the flower near the top is not as pronounced on the actual Turner piece.
I would love to see the impression all the same to be assured that it is a "Turner" and not a "GW Turner"
The only photo of the Turner mark I can find on the net is among the photos for this platter http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/RARE-JOHN-TURNER-OF-LONGTON-SECTIONAL-DISH-IN-STAG-PATTERN-c1790-N-R-/171345206363?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=TctSYqhC8B8H7N7o%252BNaXe8%252BChmw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
Rob

Myrna

7/10/2014 11:17:14 pm

Rob,
I have seen this vase twice--first in a private collection and then at Bonhams London. I was not able to photograph the mark either time, but the letters were small--smaller than on the plate on eBay, and the mark was so poorly impressed that it was easy to miss it. I will catch up with this vase, I hope, at some point in the future and will remember your interest then. I have a collector friend who is very interested in Turner and I will send him your way!
Myrna

old-bonez

7/11/2014 08:22:29 am

Myrna
I am a descendant of Turner and hence my interest in the Manufactory. At present I am collecting photos of designs and images applied thereon. My collection seems to be ever growing and is now showing Turner designs that other potters began producing after the 1806 bankruptcy. Obviously these are from moulds & copperplates purchased in the Auction. The list of "who has what" is interesting.
I am always interested in discussing Turner with others however I am no expert.
Feel free to email me using my nic (name) as shown in grey above together with the usual hotmail details
Regards, Rob