Designer | Picton Hopkins and Sons Pty Ltd |
Maker | Picton Hopkins and Sons Pty Ltd |
Marks | Incised “Picton Hopkins” under glaze to base |
Description | Mould pressed wide mouth tapering with straight sides to narrow base. Black plain gloss glaze to exterior with harlequin glazes to interiors. |
Condition | Good condition for age with some age related crazing to interior. Stirrup marks are pronounced. |
Number | |
Production Date | 1950s |
Width | 110mm |
Depth | 57mm |
Length (with handle) | 147mm |
Weight | 195gm |
Volume | 235ml |
Acquisition | Chapel Street Bazaar, Prahran, Victoria |
Picton Hopkins and Sons Pty Ltd is one of Victoria's oldest continuously operating family businesses, having starting in 1857. It was established by the four Picton brothers from Wales who were craftsmen in the masonry and plaster trades handed down to them from their Father and Grandfather, which they in turn handed down to their grandsons. Hopkins was plasterer Isaac Hopkins who arrived in Victoria in 1858. Later, in 1882-83 Isaac became mayor of the suburb of Williamstown. They began working in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond at 130 Church Street but the business is now located at 138 Bell Street Preston, Melbourne, with branches at several regional cities around Victoria as well as clients nationally. The fifth generation of the Picton family still works the business today. During the early 1940's like many other pottery companies, they began producing a range of tableware and decorative pottery items including these ramekins. Some of their pottery was decorated with pseudo-aboriginal designs, polka dots and other features. Pottery production seems to have stopped by the mid 1950's. Picton Hopkins now specialize in the manufacture of plaster products and architectural moulding. The plaster-work ceiling of well known Melbourne restaurant Grossi Florentino was created by Picton Hopkins and can still be seen in the mural room. The University of Melbourne, School of Architecture once had the “Picton Hopkins Prize”. | |