This is a highly collectable little porcelain Art Pottery teapot made by the ceramic artist, Mary Rich (1940 - 2022). It is probably a more specialist item for the collector of contemporary British studio pottery.
The little teapot is a decorative item and is typical of her work and has a painstakingly applied dark black-blue ground colour which is decorated all over with a most intricate gilt geometric pattern. It is certainly finely decorated all over and I have taken lots of images for your inspection. It must have been so difficult to make this pot - as it is a perfect replica of a large functional one. The is a thing of beauty.
The little spout is without damage which is amazing given how fragile it is. The lid is also whole and fragile - I love the little shaped know on the lid. It has original woven rattan handle which has been added to ceramic loops on each side. The handle is clean and with no losses to the cane work. These wee pieces of studio pottery by Mary Rich are just lovely!
It is an impressed maker's mark "M" on the side of the pot. It is not signed by just stamped with her mark, as photographed. This would date this piece to around the 1980s.
Dimensions: The teapot from the base to the top of the raised handle is 5 1/4 inches (13.5 cm). The height of the teapot from base to top of the knop on the lid is 3 1/4 inches (8.5 cm). The diameter of the main body of the pot is 3 1/4 inches (8.5 cm).
It is in very good condition with no chips or cracks. The gilding is all present - any black marks on the gold colour in my photos are caused by reflections coming from the light.
HISTORY: Mary was one of Britain's best known potters. She studied ceramics at Bournemouth College of Art until 1961, and this was followed by a period working with David Leach.
In 1962 she opened her first studio in Falmouth where she made salt glaze ceramics. It wasn't until the 1980s, with the advent of more efficient kilns, that Mary switched to making solely porcelain pieces.
She was a Fellow of the Craft Potters Association, a member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen and a member of the Cornwall Crafts Association.
Her pots are hand-thrown in porcelain. Most of them have several layers of colour applied to the raw clay to achieve exactly the right base for her final decorations, added after the glaze firing. The characteristic geometric designs are applied with liquid bright gold and other lustres, using fine brushes.
Each piece takes many hours to produce and the final results glow with muted golds, greens and blues. My price is a fair one and reflects the time, skill and artistry involved in many these unique pots.
This one will have to be sent to you with Royal Mail Special Next Day Delivery for that it is insured against loss or damage in transit. This will be applied to your at the checkout.