Re: Portmeirion Pottery

by Portmeiriana on Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:08 am

Deecee wrote:I bought this today. Is the pattern called Grapes? I can only find it online in "Parian", and is this backstamp one of the earlier ones? Any info would be gratefully received

The Parian range uses Victorian jug patterns inherited from Kirkham's. Portmeirion continued to produce the original Kirkham's jugs (and chickens) in the 1960s, tried re-launching them with white and coloured glazes in the mid 1970s (Yours in the 70s version in Rockingham Brown) - British Heritage was the early 1980s version (with a backstamp that could be removed by unscrupulous antiques dealers), Parian had an de-bossed stamp that could not be removed.

You should buy my book!

Stephen Mckay

by Portmeiriana on Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:10 am

Jakjo wrote:Could it perhaps be from the "Sporting Scenes" range from wood engravings by Thomas Bewick (1752-1828)?

'Sailing Ships' and 'Country Life' both originally Grays Pottery motifs are more common on white backgrounds.

by Portmeiriana on Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:16 am

Pip wrote:You still see them around Sue - I think I've got one somewhere.

Anyway, here is an unusual 'Talisman' lidded jar - the shape is one I've not seen in a jar from Portmeirion before and secondly the screenprinted pattern only has one colour. Normally this black design is printed over two colours (see my other 'Talisman' items at the beginning of this thread). Does anyone know why this one is different?

*click to enlarge*

This is a nice, unusual piece, it dates from the very early period then the colours of Talisman were added by hand painting - they were later incorporated into a colour lithographic transfer.

Any hand painting, even if it was just adding a band of colour would let Portmeirion use 'Hand Painted' in the promotional description.

The shape is again one of those useful Kirkham's medical containers - I have two examples decorated in Malachite - they are a rare shape.

Please add images to my Flickr Portmeirion Pottery group

thanks

Stephen Mckay

by Portmeiriana on Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:20 am

Fennek wrote:I think it's the Cypher design...

Yes it is Cypher - a version of Totem originally made at the request of a German company.
Not one of Susan's favourite designs.

by Portmeiriana on Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:29 am

ebbalovisa wrote:Hello all.

I live in Sweden and I have, without knowing it, owned two
portmeirion tea cups with saucers for a few years and they have always been my
favourites! I bought them for on a flea market in Sweden.

Recently,
I dropped one of the cups on the floor and only after that did I look
for the brand and tried to learn more about the cups to find a new one.
I have been looking on Ebay.co.uk and on the official Portmeirion
homepage, but I haven't been able to find any information about the
motif of my cups anywhere.

I'm now very curious about what the motif might be called
and when it was sold or manufactured.

Portmeirion is quite unknown in Sweden so it's only now looking online, that i realise that it's a whole world of
cups and motifs...

Thankful for any answers! :)

This is the cup:

What you have is a mid 1970's "Open Stock" Giant Cup and Saucer. These were mass-produced decorative items using Portmeirion's shapes but decorated with inexpensive lithographic transfers which were available to any pottery - hence the term 'open stock'. Hundreds of different patterns were bought-in by Portmeirion so finding a match for yours will be near-impossible but finding a similar cup is very easy as they regularly turn up on e-Bay. As well as giant Cups, Portmeirion were making up to 5000 Chamber Pots in various sizes with the same floral transfers many of which went to Sweden for use a planters, ice buckets and punch bowls & cups.

by Portmeiriana on Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:39 am

PeterC wrote:Hello,

I'm looking for more information about the Starfire series 2001-2003. I did a quick search and came up with the Portmeirion site and the usual "china replacements". Can anyone provide additional info about this series (design, techniques, colours) and maybe some of your own experience with this line?

Thanks,

Peter

Starfire was a 'Living Glaze' available in three colourways, green red and blue. The Portmeirion China kilns were dismantled to make way for the new range but Starfire never took off. Their were technical problems with the red so it only ever appeared a Seconds items and there was consistency issues with the other colours. The decorative items are very attractive but the rough texture of the tableware made them unpleasant to use and easily marked.

Susan Williams-Ellis had very little, if any involvement with the development of Starfire.

by MICRA on Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:43 pm

http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/16/23/05/20/portme14.jpg

Can anyone please identify this piece of Portmeirion, it measures in diameter 29cms and height 15cms. thank you from a newbe member

by **dantheman** on Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:08 pm

http://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/817a.htm

by puregaia on Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:49 pm

Hi Peter,
I have most of the Jade Portmeirion set, and I can say it is truly beautiful, I have never seen anything quite like it for such a beautiful and organically natural looking pattern...it looks rather like a snowflake pattern, edged with whichever colourway, in my case:- Jade. Very natural looking and it feels nice also. Maybe some have found this to be an impractical design, but I have not experienced this problem. I purchased the large plates, the small plates, the large bowls and the mugs.
I also have the bowls from the Portmeirion botanical collection - which is what first triggered my interest in Portmeirion, but I don't think they are nearly as nice as the Starfire collection.
Sarah.

by Portmeiriana on Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:41 am

MICRA wrote:http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/16/23/05/20/portme14.jpg

Can anyone please identify this piece of Portmeirion, it measures in diameter 29cms and height 15cms. thank you from a newbe member

Its a Talisman mixing bowl.

by **bistoboy** on Thu Jul 07, 2011 6:45 pm

bought today, a malachite patterned plate. very heavy and thick, possibly the base to a cheese dome or a teapot stand?

by **Adam20** on Fri Jul 29, 2011 7:44 pm

Tivoli pattern Jug and sugar shaker - I love this design!

by AndreaJ on Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:59 pm

I have been selling Portmeirion for over 20 years but recently I thought their products were looking tierd. The company bought Spode and Royal Worcester 3 years ago and have spent all their time developing these at the expense of Portmeirion. Thankfully they have now introduced a number of new ranges including Exotic Botanic Garden and some new motifs.
Do collectors think this is enough or is there still something missing? What do you think, let me know. I want the compant to do well and speak to them often so I'm happy to pass on ideas. Whats missing from the ranges? What do you think about the new designs?
and let me know your thoughts.
Thanks

by **bistoboy** on Tue May 15, 2012 9:10 pm

3 jars - for utensils?

Portmeirion Pottery