Donald Mills

The book has Donald Mills Potting with Bernard Leach at St Ives in 1944, thence to Fulham in 45, then to Donald Mills Pottery Ltd with Eillen Lewenstein for 46-48 and to Briglin 48-52.

The 70's stuff I personally consider tending towards the tourist but I keep looking for the more personnel items from the later period, but to no avail. Perhaps someone will post one or two DJM that will change my mind.

I am thinking my pieces date to the DM Pottery period 1946-48. However I have another white clay vase which is squat and does not in any way compare to these dated 1947 - hand signed - "Donald Mills 1947"

1) Medium vase - Marked "D.M.-" in blue painted under glaze. Height 200mm
2) Huge Lidded Storage Jar - Stoneware - 300mm - Mark obscured by label.
3) Cider Jar - Stoneware, saltglazed 230mm - marked "Dm"

I've looked but these sort of items just don't come up any more. The slatgalze flagon is a great shape and I've used it a few times. I have resisted removing any more of the interesting label from the huge lidded jar and it is still as it came to me.

I looked it up

Bus fare (kids) 1/2d
Chips 1d
Fish 3d
Ford Popular £80 (3 year waiting list)
Terraced House £400
Fairly good semi house £750

Somehow I think DM has depreciated in value.

I often see antiques shows where a person says something like 'I bought this piece in 1962 for £500'.Then the experts tells them it is now worth £900 and they both agree it was a great investment!!  

Yes, and consider what £500 would be worth now if in the 60's you went out and invested it in some Luie Rie or Bernard Leach, perhaps commission a full dinner service or two.

Or sat at Troika's factory door and bought the lot as it came out of the kiln.

BINGO! TYVM  

Yes it does not come across on mine but that crazed base is the same also - with a slightly pale blue/green tint? Can I ask the height? - the smaller of mine is 200mm and big one with the lid is 300mm

Celadon like yes.

There is a lovely description in the Briglin book of them opening the glass vents in the street to vent hot air from the basement kiln and people walking past looking down into the workshop.

Update... all 1946-1948 pieces. Still hard to find and a shame he gave up potting as he would have made a decent pot if he continued for another 30/40 years - as it is his pieces are a curiosity.

and what is this glaze called with bubbles?

Ahh I assumed it was experimental or intentional but you think it may be underfire or something. Interesting.