Pates Swan planter
made in Sydney, Australia c1950s
Pates operated out of Belmore from 1946 -1990- and as you may have noticed, given the tenor of the posts of this blog, being a Sydneyite I have an affinity for the potteries near where I now live that were producing domestic wares in the 40s, 50s and 60s.
Pates’ designs and colours were influenced by the 1950s furnishing and domestic colour trends. Swans were a big theme; from tiny vase forms to large planters, like this one. The 50s colours were applied as a drip glaze, so no two pieces are exactly alike.
My friend Roz gave me this planter; she was had an inkling that I would love it. I love swan pottery precisely because they are such a 50s icon- if you search this blog you’ll find all manner of plastic, gilt and ceramic swans all hailing from the 50s.
I’ve teamed the planter- which has a hole for water egress, as you’d expect in the base- with a dried bunch of eucalypt. It would look great with a potted maiden hair fern, or other indoor plant; but also doubles as an impromptu vase.
The swan planter is for sale: $AUD145
re:retro 