LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
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dantheman
benwilliams
NaomiM
bistoboy
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Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
Lesson 1 - never say "should be an easy one".
It should be but I think that it was made in the 1950s and that wasn't a time when anyone was that interested in noting down studio pottery marks................... but someone may know.
It should be but I think that it was made in the 1950s and that wasn't a time when anyone was that interested in noting down studio pottery marks................... but someone may know.
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Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
studio-pots wrote:Lesson 1 - never say "should be an easy one".
It should be but I think that it was made in the 1950s and that wasn't a time when anyone was that interested in noting down studio pottery marks................... but someone may know.
i have definitely jinxed this one, haven't i?
Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
Second mark is the Star Trek insignia.
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FS mark and moth or Star Trek mark - Frank Smith? - see John Solly
Last edited by NaomiM on July 27th 2023, 2:37 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Carrot cake is just fake cake
Studio vase, impressed mark LJ (see John Shelly and Frank Smith)
Well thrown earthenware, browny grey striped glaze.
Red body impressed mark, possibly n, could be h or gothic letter like a.
Ring any bells? Thanks again.
Now that I know what to look for it is the same LJ mark. It could be local as I’ve just seen that John Shelly worked in Littlehempston near Totnes from 1961. I don’t know his work but I shall check it out. The pencil price on the base is 5 / 6 so that puts it into the 1950s or 1960s.
Red body impressed mark, possibly n, could be h or gothic letter like a.
Ring any bells? Thanks again.
Now that I know what to look for it is the same LJ mark. It could be local as I’ve just seen that John Shelly worked in Littlehempston near Totnes from 1961. I don’t know his work but I shall check it out. The pencil price on the base is 5 / 6 so that puts it into the 1950s or 1960s.
benwilliams- Number of posts : 2501
Location : Devon
Registration date : 2017-12-27
Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
I would look at potters who worked in the 50's or early 60's in the Cotswolds area.
Lupus is the only surname, I can think of, that links the L and the funny wolf looking mark on Pinterest
Lupus is the only surname, I can think of, that links the L and the funny wolf looking mark on Pinterest
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dantheman- Consultant
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LJ mark and JS mark - John Shelly / John Solly?
Last edited by NaomiM on July 27th 2023, 1:13 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
not sure 2 potters would be needed to make a small green jug?
MCWebs- Number of posts : 726
Location : GB
Registration date : 2017-09-24
Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
They are the marks of John Solly and Frank Smith, whose potteries were maybe half a mile a part in Kent. It could have been from when Frank was setting up and John was helping him get started with tips, glazing etc.
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Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
Many thanks for the extra info - always very much appreciated
MCWebs- Number of posts : 726
Location : GB
Registration date : 2017-09-24
Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
Its john shelly not solly btw, john solly didnt have a tail to top of J...
MCWebs- Number of posts : 726
Location : GB
Registration date : 2017-09-24
Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
You are correct that there isn't a John Solly mark like this in the book but there is a mark like this attributed to John Shelly when he was at the Bath Pottery making earthenware.
However, the FS is definitely Frank Smith, who began potting under his own name in Kent in 1976, after starting out with Colin Pearson in Aylesford. His work was the first studio pottery I ever bought back in 1988 directly from him at the pottery and the stoneware body of your jug matches one that he used.
In 1976 John Shelly was living in Devon and I am not even sure if he was actively potting at that time. In any case I know of no connection between the two and they lived 250 miles apart. Therefore I can't see any likelihood of John Shelly having any connection with the piece.
In 1976 John Solly wasn't down the road from Frank but potting 25 miles away (he moved down the road from Frank in 1986). However, I know that he had connections with the David Leach & Colin Pearson, as David told me that he got many of his glazes recipes from John Solly when David was making earthenware at Lowerdown in the late 1950s. Hence the reason for me saying the JS on your jug was a John Solly mark.
Obviously, I might be incorrect about John Solly being responsible for glazing the jug, which I was suggesting, but it does fit much better than John Shelly, who only used this mark 20 years earlier at the Bath Pottery.
When I saw your correction to my post something else came to mind and that was that I remembered Frank saying that his wife had been involved in the pottery in the early days. I have checked and found out that Mrs. Smith's first name was Jean so.......... maybe another option?
However, the FS is definitely Frank Smith, who began potting under his own name in Kent in 1976, after starting out with Colin Pearson in Aylesford. His work was the first studio pottery I ever bought back in 1988 directly from him at the pottery and the stoneware body of your jug matches one that he used.
In 1976 John Shelly was living in Devon and I am not even sure if he was actively potting at that time. In any case I know of no connection between the two and they lived 250 miles apart. Therefore I can't see any likelihood of John Shelly having any connection with the piece.
In 1976 John Solly wasn't down the road from Frank but potting 25 miles away (he moved down the road from Frank in 1986). However, I know that he had connections with the David Leach & Colin Pearson, as David told me that he got many of his glazes recipes from John Solly when David was making earthenware at Lowerdown in the late 1950s. Hence the reason for me saying the JS on your jug was a John Solly mark.
Obviously, I might be incorrect about John Solly being responsible for glazing the jug, which I was suggesting, but it does fit much better than John Shelly, who only used this mark 20 years earlier at the Bath Pottery.
When I saw your correction to my post something else came to mind and that was that I remembered Frank saying that his wife had been involved in the pottery in the early days. I have checked and found out that Mrs. Smith's first name was Jean so.......... maybe another option?
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Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
The JS mark has been attributed to John Shelly several times, and John Solly has been discounted or someone has asked him - I have a note saying Not John Solly - but if Frank Smith wasn’t at Bath Pottery then it’s more likely that the JS is neither of them but instead belongs to Jean Smith. (Edited - FS mark probably not Frank Smith)
I’ve added “Jean Smith?” to the titles of various threads with these marks so we can find them again
Another example here -
edited to say the FS mark is probably not Frank Smith after all
An example of the JS mark plus a mystery LJ mark. Did Frank and Jean have any children who joined them potting? It’s possible it’s not JS but an SJ monogram
Another example of the LJ mark, paired with a shield? mark
I’ve added “Jean Smith?” to the titles of various threads with these marks so we can find them again
Another example here -
edited to say the FS mark is probably not Frank Smith after all
An example of the JS mark plus a mystery LJ mark. Did Frank and Jean have any children who joined them potting? It’s possible it’s not JS but an SJ monogram
Another example of the LJ mark, paired with a shield? mark
Last edited by NaomiM on July 27th 2023, 2:32 pm; edited 5 times in total (Reason for editing : Removed the John Shelly mark with is being reviewed)
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Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
closest mark i've seen is the Fournier Book mark and looks like the John Shelly mark to me even the elongated outer fits - John Shelly to me...
MCWebs- Number of posts : 726
Location : GB
Registration date : 2017-09-24
Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
definately not Jean Smith's work
MCWebs- Number of posts : 726
Location : GB
Registration date : 2017-09-24
Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
The JS mark is too close to John Shelly’s in the Marks book not to be his, imo, so I’m going to say JS = John Shelly and not John Solly.
We don’t know Jean Smith’s mark (Frank Smith’s wife) as she’s not in the book.
So that must mean the FS mark isn’t Frank Smith
We don’t know Jean Smith’s mark (Frank Smith’s wife) as she’s not in the book.
So that must mean the FS mark isn’t Frank Smith
Last edited by NaomiM on July 27th 2023, 2:34 pm; edited 3 times in total
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Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
NaomiM wrote:The JS mark is too close to John Shelly’s in the Marks book not to be his, imo, so I’m going to say JS = John Shelly and not John Solly.
We don’t know Jean Smith’s mark (Frank Smith’s wife) as she’s not in the book.
So that must mean the FS mark isn’t Frank Smith
Then we have a difference of opinion. I feel you both seem to be using everything in the "Book" as being "gospel" and definitive, which it is not and has never suggested it is.
Of course, you might be correct but I don't see that there is enough evidence to draw the conclusions that you have.
Last edited by studio-pots on September 21st 2020, 10:12 am; edited 1 time in total
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Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!
John Shelly / Solly?
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Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!
hadfield- Number of posts : 106
Location : UK
Registration date : 2020-06-19
hadfield- Number of posts : 106
Location : UK
Registration date : 2020-06-19
Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
It’s the clearest mark I’ve seen of this maker. there’s a thread or two on here but I don’t know how to put them on here. They are linked to John Shelly. And I listed a pot on eBay yesterday with the LJ mark, but it’s got no ID yet unfortunately. Could be Bath Pottery as John Shelly worked there in early 1950s.
benwilliams- Number of posts : 2501
Location : Devon
Registration date : 2017-12-27
Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
Another example of this 'star trek' mark. I thought the FS was Frank Smith but not so sure now. It might be the FS that was paired with the JS mark (that had been attributed to John Solly) which is associated with the LJ mark which is pared with this star trek mark.
Last edited by NaomiM on July 27th 2023, 2:34 pm; edited 4 times in total
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Carrot cake is just fake cake
Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
The 'Star Trek' mark looks to me to be a flying insect with dots at the wing-tips, a small moth, perhaps?
Grumpy Grandad- Number of posts : 867
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Re: LJ mark, JS mark, FS mark - prob not John Shelly, John Solly or Frank Smith
The tin glaze appears to be that which David Leach told me John Solly had given him the recipe for but, if he gave it to David, then he could have given it to numerous other potters.
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