Charles Wilton

Designer	Charles Wilton
Maker	Charles Wilton
Marks	Incised “C Wilton” to base
Description	Echoing ancient South American bowls, these heavy hand thrown Terra Cotta bowls have hollow conical handles. Matt brown glaze with lighter drip glaze patches to the sides.
Condition	Very good. No chips cracking or crazing
Number
Production Date	Late 1970s, early 1980s
Width	120ml
Depth	70ml
Length (with handle)	150ml
Weight	365gm 13 oz
Volume	500ml
Acquisition	Camberwell Sunday Market

Charles Wilton was born in Glasgow 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 in 2001.