More Australian Pokerwork

My collection of Australian pokerwork items grew last weekend with the addition of two more vases.

The two vases in the centre of the photo above were found at last Sunday's Aladdin's Fair.

My two latest pieces of pokerwork

It was the large vase that caught my eye first rather than the small one. I ended up taking them both as it really made very little difference to the overall price whether I only bought one or both of them. I figured that I could always try to resell the small vase if I wanted to or I could use it as an experimental restoration candidate sometime. Always better to try things out first on the minor pieces in your collection just incase things end in disaster. The small vase does however still have some naive charm about it. It is simply decorated with some gum nuts and gum leaves.

Detail of the gum blossom decoration on the large vase (flash was used to help bring out the rich colours)

The large vase is decorated with gum blossoms and gum leaves. It's the depth and richness of the decoration on this vase that I love. This type of decoration utilises tinting and shading rather than the deep burnt lines used on the small vase.

There is however some deterioration to the varnish finish on this vase, especially around the top. Not sure if this can be successfully corrected without damaging the original decoration. I will have to pick the brain of a friend of mine who collects and restores pokerwork to see what can be done. Until then I will refer to this deterioration as being the vases "patina" or "acceptable age related character".

And so my Australiana collection continues to grow. Seems to be my main focus at the moment. What will be next?

Australian Gumnut & Gum Leaf Vases

Here are some more of my treasure finds from the Caloundra Show.  I had been looking for a vase like this for sometime now and was surprised to find three all together on one stall.  My intention was to only buy one of the small ones but the persuasive stall holder (also a friend of mine) offered me the three at a price I couldn't resist (aided by some prompting from his good wife).


These handmade, pottery vases were most likely made by one of the Sydney potteries in the 1940s - 50s.  Not sure I will ever be able to find out which one as none of them have any identifying marks.  Each of them have some applied branches, gum leaves and gumnuts on a sponged background.  The large vase is also modelled as a large branch with strongly impressed graining.

Large vase (note the nice blue/green interior)

Detail of large vase

Large vase showing actual size

The large vase has a few small chips to some of the leaf edges and a small chip to the rim.  This is not surprising as this type of decoration on pottery is extremely vulnerable to damage.  Thankfully the damage is not too obvious due partly to the intricacies of the decoration.

Back of large vase

Detail of one end of the large vase

The smaller vases below are moulded differently to the large vase but still include very similar applied decoration.  The decoration on the vase with the yellow interior is very similar to the large vase's decoration whereas the other small vase has the same blue/green colour interior but slightly differently modelled leaves.  I suppose it just depends on which potter did which part of the decorating process.

Small yellow interior vase showing actual size

Detail of small yellow interior vase

Small blue/green interior vase showing actual size 

Detail of small blue/green interior vase

Each of the small vases also have some very minor nibbles to a couple of leaf edges though these are extremely hard to see.  Overall the condition of the three vases is extremely good considering their raised decoration and age.