VINTAGE TABLEWARE

 VINTAGE  TABLEWARE
1960S tableware

VINTAGE  TABLEWARE

Is often recognisable by its tall, cylindrical shapes, striking patterns, and bold colours. There is still plenty around, but prices are rising as people increasingly appreciate Many people will have some 1960s tableware at home without realising its potential interest as a collectable.

 Anyone who married in the 1960s probably received contemporary tableware, such as Portmeirion, as a wedding gift. If so, it may well have some investment value.

Wind of change

Although the audacious patterns and striking styles of the 1950s continued into the next decade, 1960s tableware is characterised by bolder colours such as deep browns, purples, and oranges. Changing lifestyles and competition from overseas forced potteiy firms to be inventive. At the same time,innovations in manufacturing and printing made production faster and cheaper, so hand-painted decoration became redundant.

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The demands of modern living inspired oven-to-table ware, a novel concept embraced by factories such as Midwinter and Poole. The ability to update their production range quickly brought these factories ahead of the market, as they regularly released new patterns, shapes, and speciality lines such as boxed sets intended as gifts for newly-weds.Welsh wizardry

One of the key factories in the 1960s was the Portmeirion Pottery. In 1953 Susan Williams-Ellis began creating giftware for a shop in Portmeirion in Wales. Her wares, decorated by A.E. Gray & Co. Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent, proved popular, and she and her husband bought Gray's in 1960. The following year she acquired a Kirkhams Pottery, ; which had made blanks for Gray's, so that she could now design and make shapes as well as decorate them.

Today, Portmeirion is best known for its Botanic Garden' range, introduced in the 1970s. But the company's diverse ranges from the 1960s may be worth watching. Prices have fallen, but may rise again. Look out for moulded patterns such as Totem', and Tivoli' and 'Magic Garden', which are printed patterns. Prices range from a few pounds for a plate, up to ,£15-20 for a storage jar and £30-50 for a coffee set. Some patterns from the early 1960s, such as green swirling 'Malachite' and Talisman'. Later, in 1970, 'Magic Garden' was released, hut this complex pattern was unpopular and was only produced for a short period. This makes it highly collectable today. Other rare patterns include 'Gold Signs', Gold Diamond', and "Reddington's New Foot Soldiers'. The patterns can fetch from £10-£50, or more for unusual or large pieces.

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Totem power

Portmeirion created shock waves in the British pottery industry in 1963 when they launched the 'Totem' range, with its tall cylinder-shaped coffee pot. The daring shape of the pot, decorated with stylised abstract motifs moulded on to the ware, was mocked by competitors - until it sold so well that several of them copied it. 'Totem',

produced in various colours, put Portmeirion at the forefront of British design.

As so many 'Totem' pieces were made, values vary depending on colour and item. Plain green and amber are the most common, while white is rarer, and cobalt blue the most desirable and valuable.

Expect to pay about £5-7 for a green or amber egg cup, and \ up to £30 for a white coffee pot. The success of 'Totem' inspired several variations, including 'Cypher' and 'Jupiter', the latter featuring rows of indented circles. These fetch similar prices to 'Totem'. The blue version of 'Jupiter' faded when it came into contact with washing-up liquid, so strong blue examples are rare and sought after.Fine Midwinter

During the 1960s, Midwinter continued to be innovative. In 1962 they launched the Fine shape, which moved away from the organic forms of the 1950s to a purer, cylindrical shape that better reflected 1960s tastes. Most of the printed patterns were colourful semi-abstract designs. Examples include 'Spanish Garden', 'Queensbury', 'Sienna', and 'Cherry Tree'. As with Portmeirion, many people still use Fine pieces in their homes and are unaware that they

could become more collectable. Most pieces currently sell for up to £30, with plates generally fetching less than £15.

It is worth looking for the less well known shape ranges including MQ2, which had bowl-shaped cups on a cylindrical base. Launched in 1967, it was soon phased out because it proved unpopular. At present, it fetches slightly less than 1950s shapes and designs. The work of key Midwinter designers, such as Jessie Tait, is always worth searching for. Values range from around £2-3 for a milk jug or plate, and a complete coffee set often fetches over £50.

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Studio start

Having established its reputation in the first half of the 20th century, Poole Pottery continued to produce fresh, high-quality designs in the 1960s.

From 1958, a young designer, Robert Jefferson, developed new shapes a patterns. He created the Delphis 

 range.

colours are typically brown,deep orange, yellow, and green. Eventually, the range was modified and extended to include utility ware, and given the shorter name, Delphis. This range is more affordable today than the Delphis Studio ware which inspired it. Delphis pieces can fetch from as little as £25 up to £100 for larger or finely decorated examples.

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Another world

Carlton Ware is another name to search out. Its two-tone Orbit' range reflected, in both form and name, the fascination with  exploration. 

Larger pieces, such as teapots,

 

can fetch around.£60; smaller items around ,£20. By the late 1960s, the company's range included pieces such as Walking Ware', designed by Roger Michell and Danka Napiorkowska, which featured bowls, teapots, and egg cups with legs. These fetch around £30-50 for single pieces, with teapots or rarer pieces, such as candlesticks, often fetching over £100.Ware' also has a Lustre Pottery mark, as used by the designers' own studio.

Although less well known, tableware produced by J. & G. Meakin Ltd is attracting growing interest, primarily because its designs reflect period tastes so well. In 1968 Meakin bought Midwinter - then in financial trouble after a series of failures, including the launch of the MQ2 shape. Meakin unveiled its cylindrical Studio shape in 1964, with patterns typical of the decade, including impact', which shows a stylised four-petalled flower.

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Stirring up interest

Denby was another notable potteiy which successfully responded to contemporary tastes, with patterns such as Arabesque', designed by  Gill Pemberton in 1964 and now considered a classic. Items from both Denby and Meakin can be found for well under £30 with coffee pots or sets often Fetching around £50-100.

North and south

 

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Although smaller and less well known, the Buchan Pottery, at Crieff, Scotland, produced some interesting, brightly coloured tableware. All its designs were hand painted, so each piece is unique, but look for recurring motifs that can be built up into a set, such as Riviera' (fruits encircled in blue).Prices are still relatively low .

 

Also hand decorated are pieces by the Isle of Wight Pottery, now beginning to enjoy a revival. Prices are still low at under .£20-30,  but interest is rising. Look for colourful pieces designed B by the pottery's founder, Jo Lester.

VINTAGE  TABLEWARE  Top Tips

Always look for shapes, styles, and colours that typify the 

period

Check the base of an item for maker's marks. Pieces by leading factories such as Midwinter, Portmeirion,

and Poole have broad appeal, which increases value.

Avoid buying damaged or worn pieces: any damage will greatly affect value as there are still many undamaged pieces on the market.