More Diana Ware Pottery

My collection of Diana ware pottery has grown from one piece to five over the past month. I just love the colours in the glazes they used. Looks like another collection looming.

Two Diana wall pocket vases

Diana posy ring vase and bowl

The two wall pockets were obtained from the last Collectorama fair. I bought these both from the same seller. Apparently she'd had them for quite some time and these vases had travelled to England and back with her when she had lived there for awhile.

Diana wall pocket vase impressed '31' on back - about 20cm tall

 

Diana wall pocket vase impressed '30' on back - about 20cm tall

This type of vase was made to hang on a nail or hook on the wall, hence the name wall pockets. I wonder how many fell of the wall over the years. In truth, they are probably safer hanging on the wall than other vases were standing on a shelf or table. Both these vases share the same glaze.



The oval posy ring vase was bought from the latest Alladins Fair. I love this sweet little vase.

Diana oval posy ring vase - about 21cm x 15cm

I nearly didn't buy this vase as it has no identifying marks on it and this area of collecting was very new to me. I was fairly sure it was Diana when I was looking at it as the colours were very typical of Diana pottery glazes. So I took the chance and bought it. I have since seen the exact same vase identified a number of times as Diana pottery. Glad I went with my gut feeling.



The last piece of Diana pottery is an oval bowl, maybe a fruit bowl also found at the same Alladins fair.

Diana oval bowl - about 23cm x 16cm

This piece has the same glaze as the posy vase, only the colours have been reversed this time. I have seen a lot of Diana ware that has the same glazes in a variety of combinations. They all differ a little as they were hand done.

Rather indistinct Diana mark except for the impressed 'G2' mark

All these vases would date from the post World War II period, probably the 1950s. These pieces of pottery look good displayed together as the consistent colours and glazes compliment each other. Sometime I will have to set them all up somewhere and take some photos for a future post.

Two Pieces of Australian Pottery

This first vase is another Dayboro Day Antiques & Collectables Fair find.  I was first attracted to it by the colours which looked to me very much like what you would expect to see on mid 20th century Australian pottery.  Upon examination I discovered it to be an example of Diana pottery.  I didn't know much about this pottery except that they produced many different vases as well as kitchen ware that was decorated with dots.  I liked the colours so asked the stall holder how much it was.  The price seemed reasonable so I purchased my first piece of Diana ware.

Diana trough vase measuring approximately 21cm long

This vase was made by Diana Pottery in Marrickville, NSW, probably in the 1950s.  This type of slip cast vase is known as a "trough" vase.  Diana Pottery was in business from about 1940 to 1975.  They began by making utilitarian items during the war, then more decorative items such as vases, bookends and animal figures in the 50s as well as producing a range of decorated oven and kitchen ware. Diana Pottery is considered to be the most important manufacturer of Australian pottery of the 1960s and 70s.

Diana pottery is still readily available and often turns up in antique & collectables fairs.  It makes a great introduction into collecting Australian pottery.  You may even be able to pick up some pieces for under $10 if you are lucky.  More information about Diana Pottery can be found on the Australian Pottery website by Sam Kelly.

Impressed 'Diana AUSTRALIA' mark with 'T6' (probably a pattern number)

The second vase is one that my wife gave to me as a present last Christmas.  It is a drip glazed canoe shaped trough vase made by Bennett Pottery of Adelaide.

Canoe trough vase measuring approximately 29cm long 

I had seen this actual vase for sale a number of times at different collectables fair over the past year and had even discussed buying it from the stall holder (who I knew from my Bottle and Collectables Club).  Each time I couldn't make my mind up to buy it or not.  I'm glad Karen finally decided to buy it for me.

We had seen many similar vases to this one when we lived in Melbourne.  Each antique centre seemed to have one or two somewhere on a shelf.  It almost became an ongoing joke for us as each time we saw one we would say something like "Look! There's another canoe vase."  I am not sure if any of these vases were from Bennett Pottery but I am sure that some were from Bendigo Pottery.  Wish I had bought one now although I don't remember them being as good quality as this Bennetts one.

Underside of vase showing Bennett Adelaide mark (rather indistinct)

Bennett Pottery was founded in 1887.  The Bennett family still operate the pottery on the same site today.  Take a look at the current Bennetts Magill Pottery website.  The company manufactured art pottery only for a short period of time from the 1920s up until 1940 when the pottery suffered a serious fire.  I believe this vase dates from this period.  Glaze specialist Jack Gare worked at Bennetts during this time and it is most likely one of his glazes that adorn this canoe.  Gare had previously worked for Bendigo Pottery until he was sacked for not being willing to disclose his special glaze recipes.