Teapot made by Bakewells from Sydney
Object No. A7954
Bakewell Brothers Ltd was established by William Bakewell, born in England in Nottingham county, who began making bricks and pipes on the Erskineville site in around 1884. The firm gradually developed to include the manufacture of tiles, pots, jars and other domestic and commercial wares. In 1914 Bakewell Bros donated a number of objects to the Museum. The Annual Report, 1914, described the donation as being 'A very fine collection of specimens of domestic pottery...[which] illustrates very well the position of the ceramic industry in this class of goods. In New South Wales there is an abundance of raw material, so that no difficulty need be experienced in this direction. That the industry will eventually become of much more importance from a manufacturing point of view than it is at present, must be the wish of all those who desire to see our national industries progress.' This particular object is part of Bakewells' 'Newtone' range, produced around 1937. The range often included hand painted vases with bush landscapes and typically Australian scenes, often including motifs such as kookaburras. One of the key artists associated with this range was Daisy Victoria Merton, whose signature, D V Merton can be found on the bottom of many of these wares. This object forms part of a collection of ceramics from various Australian artware makers and major commercial potteries of the early to mid 1900s, which documents a major Australian craft industry. Specifically it documents the tradition of ceramic design production featuring distinctively Australian imagery, along with the experimentation in mingling coloured glazes on commercial Australian potteries. In addition the comprehensive collection allows for the study of technology transfer in the decorative arts, the adaptation of an imported tradition to local materials and markets, and the development of distinctly Australian imagery, styles and products. The decline of the Australian commercial ceramics industry under the combined impact of competition from imports in the marketplace, the 66.6% sales tax on artwares introduced in 1949, and the incursion of plastics and pressed metal into product areas once dominated by ceramics, is also an important case study in production and marketing. REF: Bilney, Elizabeth (ed), 'Decorative Arts and Design from the Powerhouse Museum', Powerhouse Publishing, 1991 Graham, Marjorie, 'Australian Pottery of the 19th & early 20th Century', David Ell Press, Sydney, 1979 Hammond, Victoria (ed), 'Australian Ceramics', Sheparton Art Gallery, 1987
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Summary
Object Statement
Teapot and cover, earthenware, made by Bakewells, Erskineville, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1930-1940
Physical Description
Teapot and cover, earthenware, made by Bakewells, Erskineville, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1930-1940 An earthenware teapot and cover. The teapot has an ovular body with a spout attached to one side and a handle attached to the other. The top of the teapot features a green glaze which streaks down the sides of the teapot mixing with brown glaze and yellow glaze. Yellow glaze covers the bottom section of the teapot. There is a round opening at the top of the teapot into which a round earthenware lid fits. The lid has a rounded knob in the centre and has been painted with brown glaze and edged with green glaze. The spout and handle have been painted with brown, green and yellow glaze. The opening to the spout has chipped.
DIMENSIONS
Height
150 mm
Width
205 mm
Depth
110 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The teapot and cover were made by Bakewells in Erskenville Sydney between 1930 and 1940.
HISTORY
Notes
Bakewell Brothers was established by William Bakewell, born in England in Nottingham county, who began making bricks and pipes on the Erskineville site in around 1884. The Australian potters gradually increased production and from 1891 made Bristol-glazed bottles, small rings (or 'safe stands') to hold water in which the feet of cupboards were stood for the protection of food from attack by ants, butter pots, jars and other domestic wares. Bakewells were among early Australian producers of transfer-printed earthenware for table use, which was patterned in green or sepia with Australian flora or English designs, beginning in 1905 until around 1914. However the company was unable to compete with imported wares, and by 1918 the firm was dealing in English transfer-printed ware. Art deco elements in style which appeared in the 1930s were restricted to ornamental ware, mainly vases and jugs rather than tableware. However sets of slip-cast teapot, sugar bowl and jog, sometimes with matching tray, were made with sharp winged or fluted designs in relief and shaded glaze. A 'Newtone' range produced around 1937 included hand painted vases with bush landscapes and typically Australian scenes, in blue or natural colours, and included motifs such as kookaburras. The firm also made small moulded koala bears, kookaburras and pin dishes in the late 1930s and after World War II. Painted wares continued briefly after 1945 and include small dishes in the shape of Australia. The firm closed in 1955, however some moulds continued to be used by a former employee working alone until the early 1960s. REF: Bilney, Elizabeth (ed), 'Decorative Arts and Design from the Powerhouse Museum', Powerhouse Publishing, 1991 Graham, Marjorie, 'Australian Pottery of the 19th & early 20th Century, David Ell Press, Sydney, 1979 Hammond, Victoria (ed), 'Australian Ceramics', Sheparton Art Gallery, 1987
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 1981
Acquisition Date
26 August 1981
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
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