CERAMIC DESIGNS

CERAMIC DESIGNS

1950s ceramics are instantly

CERAMIC DESIGNS

  recognizable by their bold, informal, often monochrome or two-co lour decoration. The exciting look of these pieces - vital and optimistic - still Following World War II and the restrictions placed on non-essential' manufacturing, the potter)' industry was slow to restart, and many smaller concerns closed for good. At the same time, the public turned away from the styles of the 1930s and before. 

CERAMIC DESIGNS

Younger people wanted pottery that matched their modern way of life. Restrictions on colour and pattern used for domestic wares were finally lifted in 1952. This change, following the Festival of Britain in 1951, gave British industry an opportunity to present the latest developments in science and industrial design, and offered people renewed hope and a much-needed break from the mood of austerity.

CERAMIC DESIGNS

Atomic age

The pottery industry was quick to capitalise on these developments, and the styles that were introduced set the tone for the next 20 years, drawing on an eccentric and eclectic range of sources. There were patterns incorporating atomic' styling - inspired by diagrams showing electrons and neutrons - as well as Parisian street- scenes, circus motifs, shooting stars, and even tableware decorated with contemporary furniture designs.

The most notable producers of this new style were Midwinter, Beswick, and Ridgway, but there are numerous others. Unless you are looking for rare or large ceramics, it is easy to find pieces for much less than £50 each. Designs included Beswick's much sought-after 'Circus' range and Ridgway's popular black- and-white 'Parisienne' print.

CERAMIC DESIGNS

No more flowers

Midwinter pioneered a particularly progressive approach to design.

During a sales trip to Canada, Roy Midwinter discovered that his company's traditional floral-patterned ware was not in demand. In contrast to the situation in Britain, American design had not been so seriously held back by World War II restrictions, and by the early 1950s it had moved towards softer, more organic shapes developed by popular American designers such as Eva Ziesel, Raymond Loewy, and Russell Wright. Roy Midwinter was inspired by this new look and developed similar products in Britain.

 The result was the Stylecraft range, launched in 1953, decoratedwith a mixture of printed and painted contemporary patterns, all on simple, modern shapes, with rounded corners. Plates and howls were flat and unfussy, often with wells', or slight indentations, in the centre.

CERAMIC DESIGNS

The lure of abroad

Pieces by major designers and those that capture the style of the period are well worth looking for. Examples of particularly desirable patterns are Primavera', 'Fiesta', and 'Zambesi', all designed by the prolific designer Jessie Tait for Midwinter. 'Zambesi'

also inspired many copies, such as Beswick's Zebrette' range, which tends to cost less today.

Designs by Terence Conran for Midwinter dating from this era are also worth buying - particularly 'Chequers', his hand-painted Salad Ware' pattern, and Plant Life', the latter illustrating the increasing use of commonplace household features (in this case, pot plants) as motifs.

CERAMIC DESIGNS

Hugh Casson created the highly collectable 'Cannes' pattern, which was later used on Midwinter's Fashion shape and renamed Riviera' from 1955. This design shows the public's growing fascination with foreign places, an increasingly common experience for people as air fares became less expensive and foreign holiday destinations began to overtake British ones in popularity.

Hand-painted ceramics are more valuable than those that are solely printed - a hand-painted 'atomic'- inspired Festival' dinner plate can costup to £30. Some pieces combine printing with painting, and these too attract interest.

CERAMIC DESIGNS

Home pride

The striking use of black on white is evident on a number of 1950s patterns. One of the most popular is the Homemaker' design created by Enid Seeney for Ridgway around 1957 and sold by Woolworths. The state-of- the-art furniture it showed included a fashionable chair created by the designer Robin Day and a boomerang table alongside plants and lamps. It was used on two different pottery shapes, first Metro and then Cadenza, so when building up a set check that all pieces are from the same range.

CERAMIC DESIGNS

It is worth keeping an eye open for classic patterns in unusual shapes, such as divided plates, TV dinner plates, and coffee pots, as well as on larger pieces, as all these are keenly sought after.

CERAMIC DESIGNS   Top Tips

CERAMIC DESIGNS

Look out for hand-painted designs by Jessie Tait and Terence Conran. These are easy to identify as the designer's name was often incorporated into the backstamp.

• Opt for patterns that break away from traditional florals and are more typical of the

•  
  period, such as black-and-white colour combinations and bright, modern, stylised
  
  
  designs.
  
  
  
  

• 

  CERAMIC DESIGNS

  Check the condition of pieces carefully - many were produced in large numbers and were used daily, so only those in the best condition are likely to appreciate in value.