Charles Wilton

Designer	Charles Wilton 1916 - 2001
Maker	Charles Wilton
Material	Ceramic
Manufacture	Wheel Thrown
Marks	“Charles Wilton” incised to base
Description	Plain off white ceramic bowl with looped. Speckled blue grey overglaze brushed to exterior and top half of interior. Good condition for age.
Number
Production Date
Width	110mm 4.1/2”
Depth	50mm 1.15/16”
Length (with handle)	170mm 6.11/16”
Weight	260gm 9.3/4oz
Volume	250ml
Acquisition	Tyabb Packing House Antiques, Tyabb, Victoria September 2009

Charles Wilton was born in Glagow Scotland on 4^th August1916. After migrating to Melbourne Australia, he studied ceramics at the Melbourne Technical College, now the RMIT and began working with Eric Juckert at his studio in Caulfield. Eric had recently started this studio after working nearby with Una Dearbon, who had been making homewares for Melbourne department stores. Charles worked with Eric for about four years before moving to the then outer suburb of Croydon in 1940. He joined the Australian Air Force in 1942 and served as a corporal in the No 2 radio unit, eventually being discharged from a hospitals unit in 1946. He returned to Croydon but moved to Warrandyte the following year. He was a founding member of the Potters Cottage, this being a co-operative founded in 1958 for the purpose of making and selling handmade Australian pottery. These potters produced studio pottery intended to blend the old with the modern. The five founding members from 1958 were Reg Preston, Phyl Dunn, Arthur Halpern, Gus McLaren and Charles Wilton with three additional members joining in 1961. These were Sylvia Halpern, Elsa Ardern and Kate Janeba with the final member, Peter Laycock joining in 1969. Charles was a prolific producer of all types and colours of earthenware, stoneware and ceramics and he was a master of all forms from the naïve to very refined pieces.He moved to Phillip Island in the early 1970s and continued producing a variety of small ceramics until he retired in 1992. Charles died at Wonthaggi in 2001.