Designer | John Eischer |
Maker | Elischer |
Marks | Incised to base “Cottonware by Elischer Australia” |
Description | Square bowl with rounded corners, tapering towards base. Shape of bowl an spoon shaped handle typical of Cotton (U.K). Olive green matte overglaze |
Number | Set of four. |
Production Date | Possibly early 1970s |
Width | 103mm 4.1/2” |
Depth | 47mm 1.3/4” |
Length (with handle) | 145mm 5.1/2” |
Weight | 290gm |
Volume | 310ml |
Acquisition | Adelaide Antique Market 2009 |
Elischer Pottery was started in Sandringham in 1947 by well known sculptor John (Johann Wolfgang) Elischer (1891-1966) and his son, also named John. John (Snr) was born in Vienna and studied in Paris (1910-1911) under the even more famous August Rodin. After serving with the Austro-Hungarian forces in World War 1, he practiced as a sculptor in Vienna.
John migrated to Australia in 1935. While living in Douglas Street Toorak in 1951, John won the 200 guinea prize for a design for a jubilee medal for Australian Primary School and pre school children Some of his notable sculptures are busts of Archbishop Daniel Mannix and Television great Graham Kennedy.
In 1946 Huntley Pottery in Glenhuntly began making slip cast items designed by John Elischer. The business continues today as “Unique Ceramics” at 280- 282 Bay Rd, Cheltenham, Victoria. You probably have some of their stuff without knowing it. Have a look at the bottom of that ceramic port bottle of beer stein from the Dandenong Octoberfest. In 2002, Elischer Street in Canberra was named in his honour.
Cottonware may have been made for the export market because it is incised “Elischer Australia”. Previously they simply incised their work as “Elischer”. It is likely that Elischer may have produced these under licence from Cotton.
I have some ramekins this exact shape,with no markings on the base.
ReplyDeleteThey are black with various single colours inside. Harlequin i suppose.
So you think they would be the same maker or a copy.
This shape was a common one at the time. It appears that it was originally made under license to Elijah Cotton, in England. Another company, Lane Pottery, almost entirely made ramekins of the type you describe, without marking. Please have a look at the post on them. Their base was different to Elischer. Another company, Wembley in Western Australia also made this design, but a similar size without a mark.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great resource I picked up a pair in an op shop ages ago and always wondered. They are stamped cotton ware Australia but not with the elischer signature.
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