square shallow bowl with an SP mark on the base red oxide?

Any ideas on this one would be appreciated:





TIA

It looks very similar to one of Maltby’s Stoneshill Pottery mark but i agree with Philpot that everything else about it is wrong; the mark would have been on his standard ware, and he would have included an M if it was his Art pottery.
It might be Michael Cartwright’s Spike Pottery but I haven’t seen enough of his work for comparison; the mark was only used for a short period.

Many thanks for the comments - didn't think it was Maltby myself as it is so disimilar. I'm sure I've seen similar work before but can't place it atm.

Well I'm going to disagree with you both and say my money is on it being Stoneshill Pottery

The mark is right (ofc this proves little), the clay looks about right (though he did use many), the age would seem right and the style/decoration I could see Maltby doing (his variation was huge and he did seem to like vague cross shapes/4 parts).

philpot wrote:The SP mark is just nothing much anything like his Stoneshill mark, part from being a capital SP.

He has more than one SP mark, one is more angled, but this is another:

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/76/87/27/768727606375cca0dee7c6a70fdf2e42.jpg (link from Naiomi's pinterest boards)

Yes, I considered that one but the lettering is often a broken line, and often accompanied by the M stamp so I wasn’t sure

I've seen both this and the more angular SP mark used own their own on pieces that I was certain were from Stoneshill.

With regards to Michael Cartwright I've no idea what his work or actual mark is like, the SP font used appears to be the same in "the book", but I've found that book to be very unreliable when it comes to the finer details, but you could well be right.

Though I do think it's a bit early to rule Stoneshill out just yet, would be interesting to know what Studio-Pots thinks

Apparently Michael Cartwright is now an antiques dealer and this is his website/contact details, probably worth asking his opinion

http://mandhantiques.co.uk/

Potty wrote:I've seen both this and the more angular SP mark used own their own on pieces that I was certain were from Stoneshill.

With regards to Michael Cartwright I've no idea what his work or actual mark is like, the SP font used appears to be the same in "the book", but I've found that book to be very unreliable when it comes to the finer details, but you could well be right.

Though I do think it's a bit early to rule Stoneshill out just yet, would be interesting to know what Studio-Pots thinks

I can't add anything with any confidence except to say I wouldn't rule anything out.

studio-pots wrote:I can't add anything with any confidence except to say I wouldn't rule anything out.

very wise

I have had contact with Mick Cartwright and he was happy to share his views with the forum:

'I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit I’m very hazy about this pot. The stamp is identical to the Spike Pottery mark and I don’t think I added a personal monogram as I was the only potter. I remember making slab form dishes without a mould, just free-formed over a square block of wood but I thought that was at art school, not later. I have fairly comprehensive references but can find no other similar marks and the pot is exactly the sort of work I made inspired by Hamada slab dishes.
Bottom line is I am surprised how good it looks in the photo, always thought my pots were a little mundane, well made but lacking creativity.'

I said that: The only other SP mark in question was Stoneshill Pottery with some question over whether it might be by Maltby.

Mick replied that:
I remain perplexed. The John Maltby connection is a possibility
and there is an SP stamp that looks very similar to Stoneshill Pottery so it can’t be ruled out.
My instinct is that it is a Maltby pot. I can’t quite get my head around the abstract wax resist motifs, just doesn’t ring any bells with me.
Oh well, the mystery remains!
No objection to sharing comments.

So from Micks comments I dont think that he is convinced that it is his and the mystery remains

Interesting. I’ll ask a friend who knows Maltby well. He might get a chance to ask the man himself.

Semi-retired.

I asked the Maltby collector and he said it’s unlike anything he’s seen by Maltby

Not when it comes to IDing their work. If we don’t ask them while they’re still alive then we won’t have the chance when they’re dead

Well don't ask don't get. Nothing wrong in my book in asking politely. I'm assuming you are guessing pp when you say he may think it an intrusion? Yes he might but conversely he may love to see something from his past hat he has not seen in many, many years - it may bring back good memories.

Well I get intrusions on my privacy every day, my inbox is full of them .....delete, delete, delete.... no worries. I don't lose any sleep over it. I would be surprised if anyone did.

Well it wouldn’t be me asking. I’ve passed the photos to someone who’s a friend and sees him regularly. If he sees it as an intrusion, or not a Maltby so not worth asking, then that’s his decision. But there are many ‘car boot’ collectors who have no qualms about contacting all and sundry. If the potter doesn’t want to respond then they won’t .

lots of potters are reassured by emails from fans of their work