Australiana vases

Diana vases
made in Australia 1950s

Diana made art pottery out of premises that operated in Marrickville, Sydney from 1940 to 1975. Unlike many other Sydney–based potteries of the time, Diana made only domestic and art pottery, rather than industrial items – capitalising on the huge demand for domestic wares with an ‘Australiana theme’.

These vases are doubles from my collection, so I am reluctantly parting with them. They’re from the Diana ‘Australiana’ collection; hand-painted in bushland colours of eucalyptus green and brown. Because the vases are hand-painted there is quite a variation in the glazed colours:  in the back two vases you can see both colours whilst in the front vase you can just see some green tones creeping into the bark-coloured brown tones.

The vase collection is in excellent vintage condition, and is for sale: $AU75

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Gunda Pottery

Gunda Pottery
made in Melbourne, Australia 1950s

This is a pair of small vases by Harry Whyte for Gunda Pottery, which manufactured ceramic art pieces out of Melbourne in the 50s and 60s. The aboriginal motifs were produced for the souvenirware trade, and while the pair were sold as a pair- they are slightly different in form and motif.

Both pieces are hand-signed by Harry Whyte ‘HW’ on the base; Harry didn’t always sign his work believing the forms and motifs to be quite avant-garde and so instantly recognisable as his work. Certainly the organic forms of the vases were very contemporary for the 50s.

My collection contains a fair few Aboriginal motifs…once considered to be in very poor taste,  these 50s pieces are old and retro enough to be viewed as kitsch through the ironic lens of post-modernism. Cultural appropriation ain’t what it used to be!

The pair of Australian pottery is very collectible, and is for sale: $AUD75

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Pair of kitschy vases

Pair of kitschy vases,
made in Australia, c. 1950s

These vases are unmarked, so I am unable to determine manufacturer; I do however know they are Australian and of the 50s due to their previous owner.

I am a sucker for anything kitschy or anything with a botanical theme. I also love the classic nationalistic Australiana colours of green and brown brought to these vases. And to have a pair means double the kitschiness!

I rarely collect items without manufacturer’s stamps- I like to research collected pieces and have a little historical background on them. But I broke my own rules for these vases – I simply love them. They look good displaying flowers or kitschy plastic fruit….you decide!

The vases are in good condition for their age- and the fact they are unmarked is reflected in the sale price.

For sale: $AUD60

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Kitsch vases [sold]

Kitsch vases
c.1950s

These vases are ‘extreme’ kitsch. It’s entirely possible I am the only person in the world who likes them. Certainly their manufacturer was reticent to put their name to the vases…they are all unmarked.

The vases look even better when bright, garish flowers are added…the weird juxtaposition of a rearing horse holding flower stems in its front legs is hilarious. That’s why I like kitsch…it’s often –unwittingly- very funny.

For all your kitsch needs….For sale: $AUD75