Saywell Imports

Designer	Not Known
Maker	Not Known
Marks	Embossed oval silver paper adhesive label to base of saucer marked “An Exotic Import by Saywell Imports.”
Material	Moulded glazed slip
Description	Three-piece set of brown single handled bowl with contrasting interior with geometric design to base and unglazed foot ring.  Short dished handle attached to exterior of bowl. Dish is brown matching gloss glazed slipware, unglazed foot ring.  Swirl pattern in light brown to centre of saucer with matching colour on edge of saucer. Lid is also gloss glazed in matching two tone brown with patches of lighter brown to two quadrants.
Condition	Good
Number	No number
Production Date	Late 1970s / early 1980s
Width at rim 2 sizes	Saucer 146mm Bowl 93mm Lid 97mm
Width at Base	Bowl 50mm
Depth	Bowl 45mm
Length (with handles)	130mm
Weight	Saucer 242gm Bowl 208gm Lid 128gm
Volume	175mm
Acquisition	Purchase Salvo’s Ballarat  24 Aug 2018
Rameking Reference Number	SAY 001-012

These ramekins were made in Japan and imported to Australia by Saywell Imports.  Paget Sayers journey in this business began in 1963 when he started Saywell Imports with partner Ian Murray. Initially based in his small home in Woolloomooloo and then Rochford street in Erskinville and later, Wentworth Avenue in Sydney’s CBD (better parking)  Saywell Imports brought a huge variety of household items , sourced worldwide.

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Born in the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse during the depression.  Orphaned at age 16 following the death of his mother, his father having died some 5 years earlier.  He began working at various jobs, even at age 19, working on a ship to England and working on an oil tanker and other trips before eventually returning to Sydney.  He worked as a salesman for a couple of years before starting his own business. 

Some of the keys to their success were profit-sharing with the staff, free lunches for staff (only sandwiches) and some of the staff could name their own salary. These strategies were considered novel and enlightened at the time but Paget likes to think it was his "inner-Buddha" nature. It was on an overseas buying trip that Paget discovered Bhuddism.  At its peak, there were about 50 employees. 

Paget is a philanthropist who devotes his time to Your Aid, who deliver charity providing education, clean water and medical services to rural communities in Cambodia and supporting the PAL Buddhist school in Sydney.

Saywell Group,was a long-time highly successful furniture distribution business in Australia and New Zealand. Paget later said “I had a very successful business called Saywell Imports, but when I was 45, I decided that when I hit 50 I’d like to retire. So, when I was 50, I sold the business to a company who ruined it within four years.”  Later, it was sold 2008.  A company called “Saywell Importing” on the Gold Coast is not connected.