Pates table vases

Pates vases
made in Sydney, Australia 1946-1958

I have waxed lyrical previously about my love of the ‘Australian’ green and brown hues of Sydney pottery of the post-war period…and here are some more examples from my collection. Pates pottery operated out of Belmore- an industrial suburb of inner-Sydney, from 1946 and only ceased production in 1990.

Here is a selection of Pates vases in brown/green hues; two ‘lotus’ vases and a ‘log’ vase. Like many Pates vases, these shapes came in a variety of colours to suit the late 40s, early 50s décor. I decided my personal collection would be these ‘Australian’ colours [reminiscent of the bushland] – rather than the baby blues and powder pink or pastel yellow tones; but have rather too many to use or display now.

This set of Pates vases is in excellent vintage condition, and is for sale: $AU65

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Pates vase

Pates vase, made in Australia 1960s
Let’s Find Out About Spring, published in USA 1963

Welcome to Spring! – for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere. Here in Sydney, instead of autumnal weather we are having an extended Summer. One can only dream of Spring weather!

This lovely Pates vase is of the 60s – towards the end of that art potteries output. It’s unmarked on the base, but I have it on good authority that it is Pates. By the 60s this inter-war pottery was refining vase shapes but continued to use the drip glaze method – in ‘Australian’ colours- developed in the 40s.

The delightful book Let’s Find Out About Spring has a wonderful cover illustration [complementary to the vase] and an accompanying vinyl LP in the back, also entitled ‘Let’s Find Out About Spring’.  It is amusing to me that some Australian parent has crossed out the word ‘Fall’ and inserted ‘Spring’ throughout the book, and inserted ‘…in America’.

The book was printed in Japan, and published by Franklin Watts, Inc in 1963. Written by Martha & Charles Shapp, it has illustrations by Laszlo Roth. The illustrations are unmarked; passing the censorship test of that Australian parent.

The vase is for sale: $AUD35 [and if you would like the book with LP, I’ll throw that in. The two look very good together.]

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Vintage map [sold]

Styling a vintage map

I love the synchronicity of the colours and the vintages of these three things. Map, scales, vase.

Shape, form and function are totally disparate, but the colours echo other and the three work really well as an ensemble. The map is for sale but the Salter scale and the Pates vase are part of my permanent collection.

Vintage maps are very collectible. They lend a nostalgic, quasi-educational, kitschy quality to any space. Sort of like wallpaper- but wallpaper you can move. This one is from the 40s and is a little bit un-PC [which of course, adds to its desirability.] It’s #119 ‘North America, Physical and Production Map’ and it came from an old school, and is very old school. It has a beaver in the legend to indicate areas of fur production. Under industries, it lists asbestos. Very, very old school!

This map was printed by John Sands, published by a certain Chas. H. Scally & Co, in Boronia Avenue, Wollstonecraft, NSW, Sydney. The map is in excellent condition. The colours, the beavers, the asbestos symbol [a graphic of a heap of the raw product! what were they thinking?] all in their original technicolor glory.

The map is for sale: $AUD250

Styling with a retro map

Styling a vintage map

I love the synchronicity of the colours and the vintages of these three things. Map, scales, vase.

Shape, form and function are totally disparate, but the colours echo other and the three work really well as an ensemble. The map is for sale [see post below] but the Salter scale and the Pates vase are part of my permanent collection.

Vintage maps are very collectible. They lend a nostalgic, quasi-educational, kitschy quality to any space. This one is from the 40s and is a little bit un-PC. Which of course, adds to its desirability.