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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30s vases [sold]

McCredie vases
made in Sydney, Australia 1930s

Nell McCredie was an architect before she opened her pottery studio in Epping, Sydney in 1932 to make fine art pottery by hand. McCredie continued to produce pottery right up to her death in 1968, and she was interested in art and design in all her work – as she said:

“Pottery-making is definitely an art inasmuch as the design is a purely individual thing. The technique of moulding is mechanical but the conception and execution of a design is an art -a fascinating art.” [Where Pottery is made by Hand, SMH, Oct 20 1936.]

McCredie made vases and domestic ware – often with this distinctive white matt outer glaze and a contrasting coloured shiny interior glaze. The forms were simple and strong, quite different to a lot of 30s and 40s pottery- and often with the ‘ribs’ seen on these vases.

I’ve styled the vases with Waratah and Gerbras- the single colour flower looks fantastic with the monochrome vase. As with all her pottery, the vases are hand-signed on the base: ‘McCredie N.S.W.’

The two vases are for sale: $AUD150

Pates pottery vases

Pates Pottery vases
made in Sydney Australia, c.1950s

These beautiful vases were made by Pates Pottery, which operated out of Belmore, Sydney from 1946 -1990. As you may have noticed, given the tenor of the posts of this blog, being a Sydneyite I have an affinity for the potteries that were producing domestic ware in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

Pates’ glaze colours were influenced by the 1950s furnishing and domestic colour trends; the stippled pink and green is typical of this period. Also typical, but harking back to the Art Deco – are the forms and shapes of the pieces. Pates pottery had a foot in both camps- shapes that were very familiar but in colours that were funky and 50s.

The three vases here are: Deco wall vase, posey ‘scroll’ vase and a stylized ‘log’ peony vase. All in top order and ready to receive flowers. I’m particularly fond of the wall vase- we don’t see enough of them in homes today- and it’s a great idea to hang flowers rather than take up table space.

The three vases are for sale: $AUD95

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