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Identifying
and Dating Poole Pottery
Traditional
Delphis
Look-a-likies
Poole
Pottery is generally well marked and I've only ever seen one pot which
looked like Poole but didn't carry a factory
mark on the base (although
this can be obscured sometimes, particularly with Aegean
ware which sometimes has dark glazed bases). Beside the factory
stamp, the
other marks to look out for are the pattern code, usually two letters (but
sometimes one or three); the shape
number, either inscribed, impressed or
printed; and the decorators
mark, sometimes initials but
just as often a symbol. For example, the three pots below can be identified
from their bases as WK pattern, shape number is unclear but its 288, painted by # (Winifred Rose), V pattern,
shape 354, with decorator
o
(Myrtle Bond),
and E (for elaborate) CS pattern, shape 287, painted by A (Betty Gooby). As one off pieces
Delphis pottery doesn't have a pattern code, only shape numbers and decorators marks.
Poole
Pottery can be dated by looking both at the factory mark at the base, as this
changed over time, as well as looking at the monogram used by the
individual decorator, for whom there are records of when they worked at
the factory. Before looking
at either of these however there are other clues that can be used to date Poole
Pottery.
Traditional
The
colour of the earthenware clay, or body, of
the earlier traditional
pots is one indicator of age.
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Delphis
With Delphis ware, the
earlier pieces (pre-1971), display a wider range and more experimental use
of glazes, in 1971 the number of glazes used was reduced, by and large, to
just four (red, orange yellow, green).
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