POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Vase designed by Susie Cooper

Object No. 2005/66/3

Ceramics designer, Susie Cooper, created the vivid pattern on this vase in around 1925 for A E Gray & Co. (Gray's Pottery) in Staffordshire, England. Cooper worked at Gray's Pottery from 1922 to 1929, establishing herself as a celebrated modernist designer. This piece is typical of her contemporary work that combined bright colours with restrained motifs, appealing to a conservative, middle-class clientele. Her work at this time was not marked though is now recognisable from its floral patterns, classical motifs, jazz designs, nursery scenes and bright banding. Her lustres were also highly decorative and immensely popular. In October 1929, Cooper left Gray's Pottery to form the 'Susie Cooper Pottery' with her brother-in-law, A.E. Beeson. This gave Cooper complete control of her work, including the ability to experiment with glazes, shapes and patterns. Located first at Tunstall and then at Burslem, the pottery employed six women who painted Cooper's designs onto earthenware blanks. It gained a high profile in the 1930s, largely for its tableware, and received several important commissions. Always reflecting contemporary taste, the pottery prospered until 1966 when Susie Cooper retired.

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Summary

Object Statement

Vase, ceramic with hand-painted decoration, designed by Susie Cooper, made by A E Gray & Co (Gray's Pottery), Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, 1925-1929

Physical Description

Ceramic hand-painted vase with splayed foot and flat base, body is tall and baggy with short vertical narrow neck leading to flared rim. Round, curved overlapping geometrical patterns dominate vase decoration, enamel colours of green, orange, blue, yellow and black, brush strokes visible as applied thickly, creating parallel linear brush stroke patterns on some shapes, others display no significant brush stroke design. Marked on base.

DIMENSIONS

Height

310 mm

Width

135 mm

Diameter

105 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

Ceramics designer, Susie Cooper, created the vivid pattern on this vase in around 1925 for A E Gray & Co (Gray's Pottery) in Staffordshire, England. The pattern was applied by one of the pottery's painters or by Susie Cooper herself.

HISTORY

Notes

Ian Neil Whalland (1963-1996) acquired this vase for his collection of twentieth-century decorative art objects. He lived in Sydney, and developed his collection during the 1980s and 1990s.

SOURCE

Credit Line

Bequest of Ian Neil Whalland, 1996

Acquisition Date

16 February 2005

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