Designer
|
Not Known
|
Maker
|
Not Known
|
Marks
|
Embossed oval silver
paper adhesive label to base of saucer marked “An Exotic Import by Saywell
Imports.”
|
Material
|
Moulded glazed
slip
|
Description
|
Three-piece
set of brown single handled bowl with contrasting interior with geometric
design to base and unglazed foot ring.
Short dished handle attached to exterior of bowl.
Dish
is brown matching gloss glazed slipware, unglazed foot ring. Swirl pattern in light brown to centre of
saucer with matching colour on edge of saucer.
Lid
is also gloss glazed in matching two tone brown with patches of lighter brown
to two quadrants.
|
Condition
|
Good
|
Number
|
No number
|
Production Date
|
Late 1970s /
early 1980s
|
Width at rim 2 sizes
|
Saucer 146mm
Bowl 93mm
Lid 97mm
|
Width at Base
|
Bowl 50mm
|
Depth
|
Bowl 45mm
|
Length (with
handles)
|
130mm
|
Weight
|
Saucer 242gm
Bowl 208gm
Lid 128gm
|
Volume
|
175mm
|
Acquisition
|
Purchase
Salvo’s Ballarat
24 Aug 2018
|
Rameking
Reference Number
|
SAY 001-012
|
These ramekins were made in Japan and imported to Australia
by Saywell Imports. Paget Sayers journey
in this business began in 1963 when he started Saywell Imports with partner Ian
Murray. Initially based in his small home in Woolloomooloo and then Rochford
street in Erskinville and later, Wentworth Avenue in Sydney’s CBD (better
parking) Saywell Imports brought a huge variety of household items , sourced worldwide.
.
Born in the Sydney suburb of
Vaucluse during the depression. Orphaned
at age 16 following the death of his mother, his father having died some 5
years earlier. He began working at
various jobs, even at age 19, working on a ship to England and working on an
oil tanker and other trips before eventually returning to Sydney. He worked as a salesman for a couple of years
before starting his own business.
Some of the keys to their success were profit-sharing with
the staff, free lunches for staff (only sandwiches) and some of the staff could
name their own salary. These strategies were considered novel and enlightened
at the time but Paget likes to think it was his "inner-Buddha"
nature. It was on an overseas buying
trip that Paget discovered Bhuddism. At
its peak, there were about 50 employees.
Paget is a philanthropist who devotes his time to Your Aid, who deliver charity
providing education, clean water and medical services to rural communities in
Cambodia and supporting the PAL Buddhist school in Sydney.
Saywell Group,was a long-time highly successful furniture
distribution business in Australia and New Zealand. Paget later said “I had a very successful business called Saywell Imports, but
when I was 45, I decided that when I hit 50 I’d like to retire. So, when I was
50, I sold the business to a company who ruined it within four years.” Later, it was sold 2008. A company called “Saywell Importing” on the
Gold Coast is not connected.
