OV mark flambé vase- Not Derek Davis. Ralph Pardington? prob. Ken Merrick

by Desert Collector January 10th 2018, 4:45 am

I am trying to identify this mark and the closest I found was a 1961 mark for Derek Davis. What do others think? It is not quite the same.

OV mark flambé vase- Not Derek Davis. Ralph Pardington? prob. Ken Merrick Img_4212

OV mark flambé vase- Not Derek Davis. Ralph Pardington? prob. Ken Merrick Img_4213

OV mark flambé vase- Not Derek Davis. Ralph Pardington? prob. Ken Merrick Img_4214

by **NaomiM** January 10th 2018, 10:18 am

It's possible but I don't think so. Although they are both an OV mark, the handwriting looks different. And the glaze looks too bright compared to Davis' usual flambe pieces .
An example of his mark here -

https://www.20thcenturyforum.com/t4298p25-derek-davis#162083

by **dantheman** January 10th 2018, 11:09 am

I agree,the mark is not quite right and the clay is also different

by Desert Collector January 10th 2018, 3:09 pm

NaomiM wrote:It's possible but I don't think so. Although they are both an OV mark, the handwriting looks different. And the glaze looks too bright compared to Davis' usual flambe pieces .
An example of his mark here -

https://www.20thcenturyforum.com/t4298p25-derek-davis#162083

Thank you. I had seen that image.

by Josse March 28th 2019, 9:29 am

Just joined up, so first post here. I'm Derek's son Josse and sorry to say that although it is similar to his early mark it isn't one of his. The glaze and shape are not by his hand.

by **NaomiM** March 28th 2019, 11:40 am

Thanks for the info. I’ve amended the title Excellent

by **NaomiM** June 26th 2019, 8:12 pm

By Ralph Pardington, USA potter

https://econtent.unm.edu/digital/collection/iaia/id/332?fbclid=IwAR0rsrAd1Ea3pYet3tloEPZZlidhKFeXRUptwRw10ldxkAHe3NVEfr_kKoU

by **dantheman** June 26th 2019, 11:55 pm

a year and a half but the identity was discovered, this forum is great

by Desert Collector February 24th 2020, 12:14 pm

I have been finding other pieces with this same mark. Although the marks are similar I now believe that this piece may be by Ken Merrick owner of Spectrum Pottery in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, USA. I live about an hour from Truth or Consequences.

His banner image is cropped on this website but here is the uncropped image that shows the mark in the lower right.

OV mark flambé vase- Not Derek Davis. Ralph Pardington? prob. Ken Merrick Wmp_ke10

https://whitemountainpottery.net/about

https://www.sierracountynewmexico.info/business/spectrum-pottery/

by **NaomiM** March 3rd 2020, 7:35 pm

cheers :)

by alchemyst1 May 26th 2020, 10:18 am

Hello I am a new member. Thank you for helping me identify Ken Merrick as the artisan of a wine carafe I purchased in Paso Robles Ca. over a year ago!! I have spent many hours on line trying to find that "OV" mark. I've shared photos of my carafe, as well as a couple of screen shots of his website and gallery photo showing that mark!! I am very grateful.