Gellibrand Pottery

Designer	Jon and Alda Hubbard
Maker	Jon and Alda Hubbard
Marks	Stamped (impressed) “Gellibrand Australia” to outer edge of flat base.
Material	Glazed Earthenware
Description	Gloss glazed earthenware bowl with unglazed flat circular base. Abstract floral design to internal and external surface of bowl. Light cream / grey under glaze over painted by hand.   Pink band around mid-outside of bowl with grey border.  Pink band around top rim of bowl.
Condition	Very Good
Number	No number
Production Date	Late 1980s
Width at rim	140mm
Width at Base	62mm
Depth	60mm
Length (with handle)	160mm
Weight	310gm
Volume	450ml
Acquisition	Purchase Salvo Stores. Kilsyth, Victoria 18th April 2015
Rameking Reference Number	Hub 001-004

These earthenware ramekins were made by the Gellibrand Pottery around the late 1980s.  More of a bowl than a ramekins, the handle is fixed horizontally to the rim, making it qualify by my definition.  The decoration is a hand painted floral pattern, partly stencilled on both the inside and outside of the bowl.  The handle is a twisted extruded strap pressed onto the outside of the rim.

Alda Hubbard

Jon Hubbard

Gellibrand Pottery was a family partnership between Jon and Alda Hubbard, established on the 7^th of January 2000. (ABN 19 445 482 657).  They were located on Old Beech Forrest Road in Gellibrand in the Otway region near Colac in Victoria.  They still live there today.  The area is an electoral district named after Joseph Gellibrand, (1792-1837) an early pioneer of Melbourne, Victoria.  He disappeared on an exporation and his remains have never been found.  Although the Gellibrand Pottery business was de-registered on the 24^th of July 2000, there are still many references to them on many business websites, even though they have not operated for some time.  There was more than one stamp used over the life of the pottery.

They had exhibited at some city galleries before commencing at Gellibrand and are reported as showing at Gallery 180 at 180 Toorak Road in South Yarra and Distelfink at 432 Burwood Road in suburban Hawthorn in 1980.  This was described thus “Perhaps on a more functional note, the selection of kitchenware thrown and painted by Jon and Alda Hubbard should appeal”.  They are now teaching Visual Arts at Trinty College Colac and Alda exhibits paintings at the Gellibrand River Gallery and more recently two paintings at the Apollo Bay Art Show, “Otway Tapestry” and “Trout.”   Both are now involved with charitable works.

Silcraft Pty Ltd

These ramekin cups were made by the Melbourne company, Silcraft Pty Ltd.  The bowls were made by “Agee Pyrex”, a Sydney company.  They were sold through a number of Australian Department stores and Jewellers.  They are marked “Silcraft EPNS A1”.  The “A1” is a quality symbol for plated ware and describes the thickness of the silver deposited on the body, in this case about 35 microns.  A human hair is around 100 microns thick.  EPNS stands for electroplated nickel silver.  Some other examples without the inserts are referred to as punch bowl cups.  Their handles are pierced to hang from the bowl, but these have a Pyrex insert and are intended for hot food.

Silcraft began as a proprietary limited company, and there were two shareholders, J Sharp and Mary I Sharp.  It was incorporated on the 13^th of February 1930.  They were gold and silversmiths and jewellers.  The company had a capital of 7,500, a large sum for the time, especially being in the depths of the great depression.  Later, their Managing Director was Mr A.F. Thompson.  The Thompson family had taken over the company.

Silverplate from Silcraft and Hecworth were advertising in 1936.  “Hecworth” was a brand name sold through a shopfront in Collins Street Melbourne.  Hecworth plate was made by Platers Pty Ltd in the Melbourne suburn of St Kilda at 39 Greeves street.  Silcraft Pty Ltd was located at 6 Station Place Glenhuntly, opposite the station.  Silcraft produced a range of “Huntly” brand leadless pewter ware, one of the popular products was their glass bottomed tankard.  The “Hecworth” brand was taken over by Rodd Pty Ltd in 1940.  As well as making EPNS ware for many years, they also made the Esteele range of kitchenware, particularly copper-bottomed stainless steel saucepans. 

Silcraft Dandenong Road Oakleigh

They expanded during the late 1940s, with many new employees, later moving to 82 Dandenong Road Oakleigh in the early 1950s.  They were then relocated not far from there at 168 Forster Road Mount Waverley.  In the late 1950s, they began making sheet metal for the recently built Ford Motor Company at Broadmeadows.  They continued producing components for the local car industry as their major output but fell on hard times when the local manufacturers began downsizing and many would eventually close.  In 2007 Silcraft closed their 163-179 Forster Road Mount Waverly plant and all the contents were sold.  They then began the manufacture of chemicals and compounds.  They were also still electroplating.  Their premises are now closed and being demolished.  Silcraft were owned by Chartwell Industries Limited, an international company with subsidiaries worldwide. There are now a number of companies around Melbourne using the name Silcraft.

Boring Bits

Silcraft                        ABN: 33 004 703 119

                                    ACN 004 703 119

Trademark No       82798