Mystery Maker Marked V Palmer

Designer	Mystery Maker V Palmer
Maker	Mystery Maker V Palmer
Marks	Painted V Palmer to base of 2 of the ramekins, stamped “VP to side of base on one.
Description	Wheel thrown terra-cotta bowl with flat base.  Sides curving inwards then flaring out at the top. Glazed to interior, handle and exterior.  Hollow trumpet handle.  Throwing and glazing similar to Tremar pottery.  Unglazed flat base.
Condition	Very Good
Number	No number
Production Date	1980s
Width	110mm
Depth	57mm
Length (with handle)	145mm
Weight	350gm
Volume	500ml
Acquisition	Salvos Store Noble Park, 2 Dec 2011
Rameking Reference No	VPA 001-003

No information on V Palmer so far.  This type of primitive earthenware had resurgence in Australia in the 1970s when a renewed interest in our past led to a revival of early arts and crafts.  Op shops are now full of this cheap pseudo-vintage earthenware.  Terra Cotta is probably the most common form around today.   Earthenware is a moderately porous pottery body that is fired to a temperature somewhat below that required to produce a vitreous article.  Ceramic vessels are fired to temperatures of 700-1200° centigrade. It is generally opaque, porous, course ceramic and made from potash, sand, feldspar and clay.  It is one of the oldest materials used in pottery. 

These ramekins are made from Terra Cotta.  This is a type of earthenware clay that is baked to become hard and compact (from the Italian meaning "cooked earth").  It is a hard, semi-fired and absorbent clay used for both decorative and construction products. The colours can range from grayish to dark reddish-orange, light to medium reddish-brown, or strong brown to brownish or deep orange.  It is lightly fired, unglazed earthenware usually reddish in colour. It has frequently been used by sculptors and modelers to produce models or studies for more finished pieces in other materials.

Classically, most earthenware has a red coloring, due to the use of iron rich clays.  However, this is not always the case, and for the modern potter, white and in the case of these, buff colored earthenware clays were commercially available.  It can be as thin as bone china and other porcelains, though it is not translucent and is more easily chipped.  Earthenware is also less strong, less tough, and more porous than stoneware, but its low cost and easier working compensate for these deficiencies. Due to its higher porosity, earthenware must usually be glazed in order to be watertight, this isn’t.

There is a quote about Tremar that I think also applies to these; “ If you had to design pottery perfect for Bilbo Baggins and Hobbits I think this would be it!  There is a certain ancient charm about it.  This pottery is so earthy, rustic and charming; but not without a high level of craftsmanship. The pieces are beautifully and confidently hand-thrown and so lovely to the touch - very smooth, very matt glazes, and with great use of pattern, colour, form and