Ursula Mommens

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Ursula Mommens Empty Ursula Mommens

Post by studio-pots May 9th 2011, 10:09 pm

No 20th Century Forum can be complete without a mention of the studio potter, Ursula Mommens, who was born in 1908 and lived until she was 101. If nothing else that makes her the British studio potter ,who lived longer than any other during the century, but Ursula was much more than that.

She was the great granddaughter of Charles Darwin and the great great granddaughter of Josiah Wedgwood, who began potting in 1922 and had her last solo exhibition at Contemporary Ceramics when she was 98 years old. She trained at the Royal College of Art under William Staite Murray in the late 1920s, after a recommendation from Charles Vyse, and ran Michael Cardew's pottery at Wenford Bridge for a time during the Second World War.

A retrospective exhibition of her work together with that of her second husband the sculptor, Norman Mommens, is currently being held at the pottery she start in 1951 in South Heighton near Newhaven in Sussex. This exhibition began last weekend and is open every Saturday and Sunday for the rest of May, as well as Spring Bank Holiday Monday, 30th May from 11am to 6pm each day.

The picture of Ursula below was taken during 2002 and I will add some images of her pots in due course.

Ursula Mommens Ursula11
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Post by studio-pots May 11th 2011, 4:26 pm

As promised a few images of work.

The first is a pair of moulded Festival of Britain flatback figures made by Ursula and Norman when they first moved to the pottery at South Heighton.
Ursula Mommens Festiv10
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Post by studio-pots May 11th 2011, 4:28 pm

A small stoneware jug by Ursula when in her nineties.

Ursula Mommens Small_10
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Post by studio-pots May 11th 2011, 4:31 pm

A porcelain posy bowl again when in her nineties - so it is really 21st century!

Ursula Mommens Um_por10
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Post by skipposal February 24th 2013, 5:03 pm

Ursula Mommens (nee Darwin - hence the UD mark) is one of my favourites too! The work is so well-made and she sells well too Happy
These are ones I won't part with:
Ursula Mommens Dsc01410
Ursula Mommens Dsc01411
Ursula Mommens Dsc01813
Ursula Mommens Dsc01814
Ursula Mommens Dsc01815
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Post by NaomiM April 25th 2017, 12:59 am

Ursula Mommens vase with ash glaze

Ursula Mommens Img_2915


Ursula Mommens Img_2916 Ursula Mommens Img_2917

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Ursula Mommens Empty Stoneware plate and vase

Post by denbydump July 23rd 2017, 3:51 pm

I'm pretty sure i bought these two together ages ago. The glazes and brushwork are identical, even the iron oxidation spots.
Although the vase mark is a bit mashed up, and glazed over, I'd be confident lumping the two together.

My initial thought was of course Ursula Mommens, but it doen't look quite right. Any thoughts?

Ursula Mommens 100_3433

Ursula Mommens 100_3434

Ursula Mommens 100_3436

Ursula Mommens 100_3435
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Post by philpot July 23rd 2017, 4:48 pm

The plate is definitely Ursula ]Mommens. Have some with exactly the same mark.The blue decoration is exactly hers as well. But the glaze inclusion on the vase, not too sure.
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Post by NaomiM July 23rd 2017, 5:49 pm

Agreed. Ursula Mommens. I think the vase mark is also Mommens' DD type mark

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Post by denbydump July 23rd 2017, 5:49 pm

Thanks PP. It doesn't quite match the marks in the books which always have
seriphs on the DD.

The glazes are identical but the camera has made the vase a bit yellow!


Last edited by denbydump on July 23rd 2017, 5:57 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Post by denbydump July 23rd 2017, 5:55 pm

Definitely no seriphs.

Ursula Mommens 100_3440
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Post by hercules brabazon July 23rd 2017, 9:33 pm

I've had this for years, but only realised who made it today. Stoneware storage jar, brushwork decoration, height including the lid about 12cm.

Ursula Mommens Dscf5212

Ursula Mommens Dscf5213
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Post by philpot May 11th 2019, 6:53 am

Ursula Mommens Img_4514Ursula Mommens Img_4515

A substantial Moon Jar which I was did not want to part with. But in downsizing, that is the bit of heartbreak one has to live with Shrugs
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Post by studio-pots May 11th 2019, 9:15 am

I hadn't thought about it before but Ursula was a little ahead of her time, as Moon Jars feature in the repertoire of potters today when they never really did in her day.

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Post by OG2019 October 19th 2019, 7:40 pm

Ursula Mommens Img_2117

Hi - This is an example of her work. Bought by accident by my wife!

Michael
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Post by studio-pots March 29th 2020, 2:50 pm

Ursula Mommens 100_1010

A typical hand-painted jug by Ursula.

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Post by studio-pots May 15th 2020, 12:21 am

These small bowls with fish decoration were always popular..............

Ursula Mommens 100_9010

They were around 6 cm high and 12 cm diameter at the top and when Ursula had her first exhibition with me in 2000 the retail price was £18. They went up a little over the years to £25.

Today one sold at the Maak auction for £446.40, including commission. I am not sure why.

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Post by philpot May 17th 2020, 2:05 pm

Dead Ringer for your bowl as well. Maak auctions does bring up some prices that you start questioning.. ??
This was a teapot in 2017 which went for a much smaller price than that!Ursula Mommens Img_4042
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Post by studio-pots May 17th 2020, 2:17 pm

Ursula made many of the small fish bowls in the last 20 years of her life (i.e. the time when I knew her). I did sell them in sets of six at one time.

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Post by studio-pots May 25th 2020, 12:22 pm

Ursula Mommens Mommen10

A stoneware vase with wax resist decoration, which was an uncommon form of decoration for Ursula's work.

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Post by studio-pots May 25th 2020, 12:28 pm

Ursula Mommens Ursula10

A large stoneware plate with iron brushwork decoration.

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Ursula Mommens Empty Studio Pottery Jug Stamped - Ursula Mommens

Post by 1974janeen June 29th 2020, 11:57 am

Ursula Mommens Img_5111
Ursula Mommens Img_5110
The stoneware speckled glaze (inside and out) striped jug stands around 7" tall and measures 3" diameter at the base, which is stamped with what looks like a D and an A but could be a P or a stylised B?


Last edited by 1974janeen on June 29th 2020, 12:09 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Post by 1974janeen June 29th 2020, 12:07 pm

Pretty sure I've found it - Ursula Mommens?
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Post by studio-pots July 2nd 2020, 12:32 pm

It looks to me as if it from the late 1970s/early 1980s. The mark is a UD for Ursula Darwin (her maiden name) and she used a similar stamp throughout her career. Often on eBay you see "cowboys" saying that pieces by her are pre-War if they have that mark but that's no true.

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Post by studio-pots March 13th 2021, 6:21 pm

Ursula Mommens Ty1-w-10

Teabowl with apple tree ash glaze and incised decoration. Sold to another potter recently.

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