| The history of the Poole Pottery can be | | | | angles and curves to create completely |
| traced back to 1873, when Jesse Carter | | | | new shapes, as well as variations on |
| purchased the East Quay Pottery in Poole | | | | more traditional shapes.Alfred Read and |
| from James Walker, after that | | | | Guy Sydenham were the driving force |
| gentleman's pottery business went | | | | behind this range of shapes, and many of |
| bankrupt. Jesse Carter's background was | | | | the early freeform patterns were also |
| as a successful builders merchant in | | | | Alfred Read designs, with both Read and |
| Surrey, but he believed that the | | | | Sydenham being responsible for throwing |
| architectural ceramics business offered | | | | the new shapes. Also especially notable |
| a profitable future and determined to | | | | were the creative talents of Ruth Pavely |
| put all his efforts into this. Moving to | | | | and Ann Read. Responsible for designing |
| the area with his family, two of whom | | | | and applying many of the hand painted |
| were to play a major role in the future | | | | patterns that were applied to Read and |
| of the pottery, he began to work. By the | | | | Sydenhams' shapes, Ruth Pavely was Head |
| 1880s, Carter & Company had become very | | | | of Painting at the Poole Pottery for |
| well established locally, overshadowing | | | | many years, and her mark can be seen on |
| some longer established local companies | | | | some of the finest Poole Pottery pieces |
| and beginning to encroach on the | | | | of the 1950s, as can Ann Read's. |
| territory of some of the well known | | | | Although John Adams had retired, many of |
| Staffordshire potteries.At this time, | | | | his tableware shapes were also still in |
| the output of the Poole Pottery was | | | | use and gained a new lease of life with |
| revolved around decorative tiling and | | | | the application of free form |
| other architectural pottery, such as | | | | patterns.Freeform proved to be just what |
| fire surrounds. Carter & Co's wide | | | | the doctor ordered for the Poole |
| range of decorative tiles were being | | | | Pottery, and was very successful |
| widely used in shops, pubs and hotels, | | | | throughout the 1950s. Today, fans of |
| as well as for advertising and mosaic | | | | 1950s design are keen to collect Poole |
| flooring.During this time two of Jesse | | | | Freeform shapes and the better examples |
| Carter's sons, Charles and Owen had | | | | of these pieces command strong values.As |
| begun working for the family business, | | | | the 1950s came to a close, Poole Pottery |
| and when Jesse Carter retired in 1901, | | | | was as ever aware that changing times |
| control of the business fell the them. | | | | and fashions necessitated fresh creative |
| Over the next twenty years, the output | | | | ideas and looked to one of their newest |
| of the company changed to include a | | | | designers, Robert Jefferson, to lead |
| growing variety of decorative wares, and | | | | this work. Jefferson was experienced in |
| the end result of this was the formation | | | | the pottery industry, and as well as new |
| of Carter, Stabler & Adams as a | | | | design influences, he led the |
| wholly-owned subsidiary of Carter & | | | | implementation of more modern |
| Company in 1921. Harold and Phoebe | | | | manufacturing techniques, essential if |
| Stabler and John and Truda Adams brought | | | | Poole were to remain popular and |
| between them a wealth of creative | | | | profitable.In the early 1960s a new |
| experience in design, modelling and | | | | range of studio ware was released - the |
| decoration and the mission of the CSA | | | | Delphis range. This featured bold, |
| company was to produce decorative and | | | | colourful designs on new shapes created |
| table wares from the East Quay works in | | | | by Robert Jefferson and Tony Morris. The |
| Poole.Over the next forty years, the | | | | Delphis range proved popular and once |
| Carter, Stabler & Adams company proved | | | | more in keeping with the spirit of the |
| very successful, producing a very wide | | | | times and remained in production, with |
| variety of decorative and domestic | | | | many variations, until the mid-1970s. |
| wares. One of the most easily | | | | Delphis was then superseded by another |
| recognisable and successful CSA styles | | | | bold and striking range, the Aegean ware |
| is that of the red earthenware body with | | | | range. Leslie Elsden was one of the main |
| a white slip ground and a clear glaze. | | | | creative forces behind this range, |
| This style was used until the | | | | providing a fitting culmination to his |
| mid-thirties, when C.S.A. moved to using | | | | 50 year career at the Poole Pottery. |
| white clay bodies, probably because they | | | | Much of the Aegean range was decorated |
| were more suitable for tableware than | | | | using either the silhouette or sgraffito |
| the red earthenware bodies were. The | | | | techniques, and the extensive use of |
| decorative pieces were all hand painted | | | | browns, oranges and yellows gave the |
| with patterns that were largely the work | | | | Aegean pieces a very distinctive |
| of Truda Adams. These colourful and | | | | character. While some shapes were shared |
| stylish patterns played a key part in | | | | with the Delphis and other ranges, both |
| the success of CSA and have endured | | | | Delphis and Aegean ware have very |
| superbly, still looking fresh and | | | | distinctive and easily recognisable |
| attractive today. CSA's output during | | | | characters.Poole Pottery continues to |
| the 20s and 30s also included a range of | | | | produce fine pottery from its factory in |
| skilfully modelled pieces, often by | | | | Poole today, but its survival in the |
| Harold Stabler or John Adams. Today | | | | 21st century has not been easy. In 2003 |
| these models have become highly | | | | the Poole Pottery was declared bankrupt, |
| collectable and hard to find in perfect | | | | eventually to be saved by a group of |
| condition.As with all of the British | | | | private investors. An unfortunate |
| pottery industry, the Poole Pottery's | | | | consequence of the bankruptcy was the |
| output was severely affected by the | | | | sale of the entire contents of the Poole |
| second world war. Whilst output was | | | | Pottery's museum - while the Borough of |
| restricted by government legislation to | | | | Poole was able to buy some of the |
| plain utility wares until the late | | | | contents of the museum at the resulting |
| 1940s, new ranges were being planned and | | | | auction at Christies, much of it has now |
| the retirement or death of several key | | | | been dispersed to private collectors and |
| figures such as Harold Stabler and John | | | | dealers from all over the world, |
| Adams meant that it was time for an | | | | depriving future generations of the |
| influx of fresh talent to Carter, | | | | chance to see what was probably the |
| Stabler & Adams.The ranges of white | | | | world's most enviable collection of |
| earthenware that had been so successful | | | | Poole Pottery.Today, Poole Pottery seem |
| in the past had also become almost | | | | to be finding a new direction, with some |
| unmanageably complex, and these were now | | | | innovative new ranges, including the |
| rationalised, to become known as | | | | first ever truely red tableware (red |
| Traditional ware, with three levels of | | | | glazes have historically not been safe |
| decoration - elaborate, medium and | | | | to eat from). Time will tell if they can |
| simple. Just as in their time, the Truda | | | | regain their place in the top echelon of |
| Adams designs had captured the fashions | | | | British pottery companies.Perfect Pieces |
| and styles of their time, something new | | | | ( specialises in British pottery from |
| was needed to reflect the new styles of | | | | the last 100 years, and has a wide |
| the 1950s. Several new ranges were | | | | selection of pottery for sale as well as |
| introduced, but by far the most striking | | | | a large database of past stock, |
| and successful were the Free Form range | | | | searchable by visitors.Visit the Perfect |
| of patterns and shapes. Poole Pottery | | | | Pieces website for more information or |
| freeform was distinguished by a very | | | | to contact us. |
| modern new range of shapes, mixing | | | | |