Torquay pieces fun to collect Colourful ware with a message

Press, 7 April 1987, Page 20

Torquay pieces fun to collect Colourful ware with a message

Collecting with Myrtle Duff

In one section of his enjoyable and useful little book “Antiques and Things,” published in Levin in 1985, Trevor Plumbly advises readers to "forget everything they ever learned and enjoy themselves.”

Though it may in some cases be wise to heed what has been learned, it

is certainly always a good thing to enjoy your collecting. One category which can be relied on to provide fun and pleasure is that usually known as Torquay ware.

Dedicated collectors will no doubt wish to include among their treasures some early pieces of the studio wares

produced in the Torquay Pottery before 1900 under the director of Charles Brock. Brock has been described by one of his contemporaries as a gentleman of the most enlightened taste, and of the most extensive practical knowledge. The majority of the immense variety of pieces popular today came, however, from the later oeriod following a merger with another pottery in 1901.

Around the turn of the century thousands of these homely little utensils were produced. Promoted by the Army and Navy Stores in London, and later by any establishment fortunate enough to be able to obtain stocks, they were eagerly sought as gifts and souvenirs. Often they were manufactured for export, and inscribed as souvenirs of the place where they were to be sold.

Though sometimes disregarded by serious collectors, they have nevertheless remained extremely popular. They are not in plentiful supply around Christchurch, though I did find some examples. Heritage Antiques, in Normans Road, has a rather unusual piece. At

first glance it appears to be a salt shaker but closer inspection reveals no opening for pouring in the salt and its inscription, “I take care of the pins,” explains all. It is a hat-pin holder. In the traditional cream, brown and green colours it has a sailing ship decoration. At Village By-gones there is a sugar basin with the information that, “Kind words are the music of the world”; a cream jug that asks the user to be “canny wi the cream” and wishes him “Gurd mom,” and a butter dish with a cottage

decoration and the admonition “Be aisy with the butter.” It also has the word Lincoln, so was probably made to be sold as a memento of a visit there.

Mandy’s shop in Colombo Street north has one small piece, an ink bottle with the inscription “Just a scrape of your pen.”

Though Torquay ware is not often available in Christchurch shops I feel sure there must be many good examples tucked away in city homes. The pieces illustrated are largely from the collection of Mrs M. Barker though included in the selection are some belonging to her sister-in-law Mrs Dorothy Baker. Both ladies come from Britain, but have been resident in New Zealand for many years. Both have been enthusiastic admirers of Torquay since childhood, and remember treasured pieces in their family homes.

Mrs Barker has an unusually extensive collection. Her home glows with the cherished pieces. There must never be a dull moment in such surroundings. One would certainly never lack timely advice.

As in most potteries, the custom of making “End of the day” pieces seemed to prevail at Torquay Pottery. At this time workers were permitted to make pieces of their own design. In this collection there were some very unlikely pieces whjch probably came from this category, among them a dish in deep blue with purple edge relieved here and there with white flowers and green leaves, a lovely little piece.

This remarkable collection includes a number of large pots not often found in Torquay-ware. There are teapots, tall vases, cheese dishes, and a coffee pot.

The earliest decoration, carried on from the

Studio phase of the Torquay pottery is said to be the tall crocus rlsihg up narrowly from a bulb, but Mrs Baker believes the cockerel motif to be even earlier. Later designs included various types of cottages; ships in full sail; small fishing boats; and a variety of other subjects. One small coffee cup has an unusual history to add to its charms. It was found among the straw at the bottom of a packing case which had been emptied some months before, obviously overlooked in the unpacking. Sad for the owner of the coffee set, but a gain for its eventual collector.

Among the miscellaneous advice offered on the pieces I enjoyed inspecting was, "Say not always what you know but always know what you say” certainly worth remembering.

Another pot has a quotation from Scotland’s

Bard: “Some hae meat and canna eat and some would eat but want it; we hae meat and we can eat and so the Lord be thankit.” Almost anything can be found on Torquay ware! The inscription on another pot urges us to *’Du zummat; Du gude if you ken; Du zummat.” Inactivity seems to be scorned. A cream candlestick with blue and ■ green design says “Hear all, see all, say nothing.” The words sometimes refer to the contents of the vessel — a cream jug inscribed “Fresh from the Dairy,” and a plate with the invitation “Doo ee ’ave a pastie.”

It seems to be the folksy element' combined with the attractive appearance of these glazed terra-cotta pieces which ensures an ever-increas-ing popularity for what Was originally a very down to earth product designed to sell cheaply.