Ursula Mommens
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hercules brabazon
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Ursula Mommens
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](https://i.servimg.com/u/f20/16/20/32/03/th/ursula11.jpg)
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](https://i.servimg.com/u/f20/16/20/32/03/th/ursula11.jpg)
Re: Ursula Mommens
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](https://i.servimg.com/u/f20/16/20/32/03/th/festiv10.jpg)
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](https://i.servimg.com/u/f20/16/20/32/03/th/festiv10.jpg)
Re: Ursula Mommens
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
These are ones I won't part with:
![Ursula Mommens Dsc01410](https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/18/13/29/02/th/dsc01410.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dsc01411](https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/18/13/29/02/th/dsc01411.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dsc01813](https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/18/13/29/02/th/dsc01813.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dsc01814](https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/18/13/29/02/th/dsc01814.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dsc01815](https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/18/13/29/02/th/dsc01815.jpg)
![Happy](/users/1414/55/01/63/smiles/212118.gif)
These are ones I won't part with:
![Ursula Mommens Dsc01410](https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/18/13/29/02/th/dsc01410.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dsc01411](https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/18/13/29/02/th/dsc01411.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dsc01813](https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/18/13/29/02/th/dsc01813.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dsc01814](https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/18/13/29/02/th/dsc01814.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dsc01815](https://i.servimg.com/u/f77/18/13/29/02/th/dsc01815.jpg)
Stoneware plate and vase
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](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/18/88/45/93/100_3433.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens 100_3434](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/18/88/45/93/100_3434.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens 100_3436](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/18/88/45/93/100_3436.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens 100_3435](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/18/88/45/93/100_3435.jpg)
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](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/18/88/45/93/100_3433.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens 100_3434](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/18/88/45/93/100_3434.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens 100_3436](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/18/88/45/93/100_3436.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens 100_3435](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/18/88/45/93/100_3435.jpg)
Re: Ursula Mommens
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.
philpot- Number of posts : 6579
Location : cambridge
Registration date : 2010-11-06
Re: Ursula Mommens
Agreed. Ursula Mommens. I think the vase mark is also Mommens' DD type mark
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Re: Ursula Mommens
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!
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
Re: Ursula Mommens
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](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/14/21/02/46/dscf5212.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dscf5213](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/14/21/02/46/th/dscf5213.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dscf5212](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/14/21/02/46/dscf5212.jpg)
![Ursula Mommens Dscf5213](https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/14/21/02/46/th/dscf5213.jpg)
hercules brabazon-
Number of posts : 634
Location : London
Registration date : 2009-08-06
Re: Ursula Mommens
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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Re: Ursula Mommens
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Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!
Re: Ursula Mommens
These small bowls with fish decoration were always popular..............
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.
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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Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!
Re: Ursula Mommens
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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Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!
Re: Ursula Mommens
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Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!
Re: Ursula Mommens
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Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!
Studio Pottery Jug Stamped - Ursula Mommens
Last edited by 1974janeen on June 29th 2020, 12:09 pm; edited 1 time in total
1974janeen- Number of posts : 30
Location : Lancashire
Registration date : 2020-02-17
Re: Ursula Mommens
Pretty sure I've found it - Ursula Mommens?
1974janeen- Number of posts : 30
Location : Lancashire
Registration date : 2020-02-17
Re: Ursula Mommens
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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Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!
Re: Ursula Mommens
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Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!
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