Ornament
Production date
1908
Description
A pottery hand shaped like a clenched fist. The maker's mark is stamped in the palm of the hand.
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Object detail
Artist/Maker
Production role
Maker
Production date
1908
Production place
Classification
Credit line
Taranaki,
it
would
appear,
does
not
have
a
great
tradition
in
the
field
of
pottery,
although
in
recent
years
a
few
individuals
have
made
a
name
for
themselves
both
locally
and
nationally.
Clay,
the
raw
material
for
a
colonial
pottery
was
always
here,
as
shown
by
the
number
of
brickworks
scattered
through
the
province
over
the
years.
Some of these brickworks, the Johnson Brothers works at Waitara in particular, progressed to the stage of making terracotta butter coolers but there is no evidence they went beyond this basic level.
The only attempt to go beyond the mundane was made by William Jemison of Frankley Road, New Plymouth. Jemison located a source of clay on the Smart Road property of Mr Sorrenson and tried to interest local businessmen in financing a pottery industry. To help sell the idea he made a selection of items such as bricks, a chimney pot and roofing tiles. Thanks to the support of one businessman, Samuel Hill, Jemison stamped some pieces 'Sam Hill's Clay, Smart Road, Taranaki.' One of these pieces is this ornament. It would appear that Jemison's venture did not get off the ground.
Some of these brickworks, the Johnson Brothers works at Waitara in particular, progressed to the stage of making terracotta butter coolers but there is no evidence they went beyond this basic level.
The only attempt to go beyond the mundane was made by William Jemison of Frankley Road, New Plymouth. Jemison located a source of clay on the Smart Road property of Mr Sorrenson and tried to interest local businessmen in financing a pottery industry. To help sell the idea he made a selection of items such as bricks, a chimney pot and roofing tiles. Thanks to the support of one businessman, Samuel Hill, Jemison stamped some pieces 'Sam Hill's Clay, Smart Road, Taranaki.' One of these pieces is this ornament. It would appear that Jemison's venture did not get off the ground.
Accession number
A88.764
Collection type
Material
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