| The history of the Poole Pottery can be traced | | | | create completely new shapes, as well as |
| back to 1873, when Jesse Carter purchased the | | | | variations on more traditional shapes.Alfred Read |
| East Quay Pottery in Poole from James Walker, | | | | and Guy Sydenham were the driving force behind |
| after that gentleman's pottery business went | | | | this range of shapes, and many of the early |
| bankrupt. Jesse Carter's background was as a | | | | freeform patterns were also Alfred Read designs, |
| successful builders merchant in Surrey, but he | | | | with both Read and Sydenham being responsible |
| believed that the architectural ceramics business | | | | for throwing the new shapes. Also especially |
| offered a profitable future and determined to put | | | | notable were the creative talents of Ruth Pavely |
| all his efforts into this. Moving to the area with his | | | | and Ann Read. Responsible for designing and |
| family, two of whom were to play a major role in | | | | applying many of the hand painted patterns that |
| the future of the pottery, he began to work. By | | | | were applied to Read and Sydenhams' shapes, |
| the 1880s, Carter & Company had become very | | | | Ruth Pavely was Head of Painting at the Poole |
| well established locally, overshadowing some | | | | Pottery for many years, and her mark can be |
| longer established local companies and beginning to | | | | seen on some of the finest Poole Pottery pieces |
| encroach on the territory of some of the well | | | | of the 1950s, as can Ann Read's. Although John |
| known Staffordshire potteries.At this time, the | | | | Adams had retired, many of his tableware shapes |
| output of the Poole Pottery was revolved around | | | | were also still in use and gained a new lease of life |
| decorative tiling and other architectural pottery, | | | | with the application of free form |
| such as fire surrounds. Carter & Co's wide range | | | | patterns.Freeform proved to be just what the |
| of decorative tiles were being widely used in | | | | doctor ordered for the Poole Pottery, and was |
| shops, pubs and hotels, as well as for advertising | | | | very successful throughout the 1950s. Today, |
| and mosaic flooring.During this time two of Jesse | | | | fans of 1950s design are keen to collect Poole |
| Carter's sons, Charles and Owen had begun | | | | Freeform shapes and the better examples of |
| working for the family business, and when Jesse | | | | these pieces command strong values.As the |
| Carter retired in 1901, control of the business fell | | | | 1950s came to a close, Poole Pottery was as |
| the them. Over the next twenty years, the | | | | ever aware that changing times and fashions |
| output of the company changed to include a | | | | necessitated fresh creative ideas and looked to |
| growing variety of decorative wares, and the end | | | | one of their newest designers, Robert Jefferson, |
| result of this was the formation of Carter, Stabler | | | | to lead this work. Jefferson was experienced in |
| & Adams as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Carter | | | | the pottery industry, and as well as new design |
| & Company in 1921. Harold and Phoebe Stabler | | | | influences, he led the implementation of more |
| and John and Truda Adams brought between | | | | modern manufacturing techniques, essential if |
| them a wealth of creative experience in design, | | | | Poole were to remain popular and profitable.In the |
| modelling and decoration and the mission of the | | | | early 1960s a new range of studio ware was |
| CSA company was to produce decorative and | | | | released - the Delphis range. This featured bold, |
| table wares from the East Quay works in | | | | colourful designs on new shapes created by |
| Poole.Over the next forty years, the Carter, | | | | Robert Jefferson and Tony Morris. The Delphis |
| Stabler & Adams company proved very | | | | range proved popular and once more in keeping |
| successful, producing a very wide variety of | | | | with the spirit of the times and remained in |
| decorative and domestic wares. One of the most | | | | production, with many variations, until the |
| easily recognisable and successful CSA styles is | | | | mid-1970s. Delphis was then superseded by |
| that of the red earthenware body with a white | | | | another bold and striking range, the Aegean ware |
| slip ground and a clear glaze. This style was used | | | | range. Leslie Elsden was one of the main creative |
| until the mid-thirties, when C.S.A. moved to using | | | | forces behind this range, providing a fitting |
| white clay bodies, probably because they were | | | | culmination to his 50 year career at the Poole |
| more suitable for tableware than the red | | | | Pottery. Much of the Aegean range was |
| earthenware bodies were. The decorative pieces | | | | decorated using either the silhouette or sgraffito |
| were all hand painted with patterns that were | | | | techniques, and the extensive use of browns, |
| largely the work of Truda Adams. These colourful | | | | oranges and yellows gave the Aegean pieces a |
| and stylish patterns played a key part in the | | | | very distinctive character. While some shapes |
| success of CSA and have endured superbly, still | | | | were shared with the Delphis and other ranges, |
| looking fresh and attractive today. CSA's output | | | | both Delphis and Aegean ware have very |
| during the 20s and 30s also included a range of | | | | distinctive and easily recognisable characters.Poole |
| skilfully modelled pieces, often by Harold Stabler | | | | Pottery continues to produce fine pottery from |
| or John Adams. Today these models have | | | | its factory in Poole today, but its survival in the |
| become highly collectable and hard to find in | | | | 21st century has not been easy. In 2003 the |
| perfect condition.As with all of the British pottery | | | | Poole Pottery was declared bankrupt, eventually |
| industry, the Poole Pottery's output was severely | | | | to be saved by a group of private investors. An |
| affected by the second world war. Whilst output | | | | unfortunate consequence of the bankruptcy was |
| was restricted by government legislation to plain | | | | the sale of the entire contents of the Poole |
| utility wares until the late 1940s, new ranges | | | | Pottery's museum - while the Borough of Poole |
| were being planned and the retirement or death | | | | was able to buy some of the contents of the |
| of several key figures such as Harold Stabler and | | | | museum at the resulting auction at Christies, |
| John Adams meant that it was time for an influx | | | | much of it has now been dispersed to private |
| of fresh talent to Carter, Stabler & Adams.The | | | | collectors and dealers from all over the world, |
| ranges of white earthenware that had been so | | | | depriving future generations of the chance to see |
| successful in the past had also become almost | | | | what was probably the world's most enviable |
| unmanageably complex, and these were now | | | | collection of Poole Pottery.Today, Poole Pottery |
| rationalised, to become known as Traditional ware, | | | | seem to be finding a new direction, with some |
| with three levels of decoration - elaborate, | | | | innovative new ranges, including the first ever |
| medium and simple. Just as in their time, the | | | | truely red tableware (red glazes have historically |
| Truda Adams designs had captured the fashions | | | | not been safe to eat from). Time will tell if they |
| and styles of their time, something new was | | | | can regain their place in the top echelon of British |
| needed to reflect the new styles of the 1950s. | | | | pottery companies.Perfect Pieces ( specialises in |
| Several new ranges were introduced, but by far | | | | British pottery from the last 100 years, and has a |
| the most striking and successful were the Free | | | | wide selection of pottery for sale as well as a |
| Form range of patterns and shapes. Poole Pottery | | | | large database of past stock, searchable by |
| freeform was distinguished by a very modern | | | | visitors.Visit the Perfect Pieces website for more |
| new range of shapes, mixing angles and curves to | | | | information or to contact us. |