Abuja Nigeria

Not sure exactly when the mark changed but the earlier (1950s/early 1960s) Abuja pieces had the mark in Arabic script. Therefore a late 1960s date for your vase seems correct.

As for something similar on the internet being ID'd as being by Ladi Kwali but without her mark, my answer is that is what the owner would like it to be.

Ladi Kwali had been a village potter before going to work with Cardew at Abuja and she was skilled at decoration of a traditional nature e.g. stylised birds, reptiles and traditional patterns similar to those on native fabric.

On the other hand your vase has patterns that appear to be based on Cardew/OBrien patterns i.e. introduced from the UK and then not terribly well executed, so, if anything it points to the vase being made by anyone other than Ladi Kwali.

Sorry about that.

Thanks both for your help. Much appreciated.

Nigerian jug. No stamp but handwritten and numbered (dated?) on the base. Classic Cardew shape but Michael OBrien has suggested "the clay doesn't look like Abuja or Maraba, but it does look just like the clay Stephen Mhya uses at Bwari, just outside Abuja". I'm sending him some photos for confirmation

A small casserole dish apparently made by Peter Bruce Dick (later of Coxwold Pottery) while working for Michael Cardew at Abuja in 1961-'62. I'll also post it on the Coxwold thread for completeness.



 

In case anyone's interested, I've posted a new blog piece on my Random Treasure blog comparing an Abuja Pottery jug by Tanko Mohammud with a Winchcombe Pottery jug by Pat Groom.

You can read it here

r-and-f wrote:In case anyone's interested, I've posted a new blog piece on my Random Treasure blog comparing an Abuja Pottery jug by Tanko Mohammud with a Winchcombe Pottery jug by Pat Groom.

You can read it here

thanks for that