Elischer Cottonware (2)

Designer	John Eischer
Maker	Elischer John junior (aka Wolly)
Marks	Incised to base “Cottonware by Elischer”
Description	Triangular bowl with rounded corners, tapering towards base. Short square handle. Olive green light gloss overglaze with original white slipware showing through on the edges.
Number	Set of eight.
Production Date	Possibly late 1960s or early 1970s
Width	100mm 3.15/16”
Depth	40mm 1.5/8”
Length (with handle)	140mm 4.11/16”
Weight	190gm
Volume	210ml
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. He was also an associate of the Royal Academy.

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.

Some Cottonware may have been made for the export market because it was incised “Elischer Australia”. Previously, such as these were simply incised “Elischer”.