Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
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dantheman
J Otway
droffey007
studio-pots
DIANE
skipposal
10 posters
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Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
I wonder if anyone else has heard of Chris Otway, aka 'The Shere Potter'? When I went to Durham University in 1978 I took with me a stoneware teapot and matching sugar bowl by this potter. Both items were broken long ago but in typical geek-mode I kept some fragments with the stamp on and a photo of the sugar bowl in use (sadly the teapot is hidden by a fetching tea cosy). I did a bit of online research in 2009 and found a reference to him in a 1977 article in Surrey Life vol 5:1 but haven't yet got hold of a copy. I'd love to know if anyone else has items by him (or her) and if you know anything about their history.
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
Funnily enough just emptying some more boxes of my mothers and found this. Don't know anything about the potter though sorry
DIANE- Number of posts : 163
Registration date : 2011-04-21
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
Yes exactly the same
DIANE- Number of posts : 163
Registration date : 2011-04-21
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
I know Shere in Surrey, as it is somewhere that I pass through from time to time, but can't ever recall seeing a pottery there.
The 1970s was probably one of the best times for making a living out of studio pottery so not surprising that there is no sign of such goings on these days.
The 1970s was probably one of the best times for making a living out of studio pottery so not surprising that there is no sign of such goings on these days.
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Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
Hi, I have loads of this pottery from my mother-in-law, who lived in the area at the time.
Cheers Diana
Cheers Diana
droffey007- Number of posts : 1
Location : sheffield
Registration date : 2013-04-11
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
Great! Any chance of a few photos? Do you know anything about the history of the potter and his pottery?
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
Chris had his pottery by the stream in shere and he sold his work in the square. He was there for about 10 years.
J Otway- Number of posts : 2
Location : Manchester
Registration date : 2013-08-05
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
do you own any of his pottery? I'm assuming you are a relative?
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dantheman- Consultant
- Number of posts : 15465
Location : Lincolnshire ( the veg patch of England)
Registration date : 2008-02-03
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
Yes I was his wife.
He trained as a teacher in Chichester and went to work in London, but only for a short time. He moved up to Swaledale to work for another potter. Not sure of his name. This was all before I met him.
He started his pottery in Shere around 1975 and we married in1976. We had 3 children and in 1984 he had all sorts of problems health wise and we moved to a pub near Midhurst called the Potter and Vine now known as The Bluebell. He died 13 years ago of cancer.
He trained as a teacher in Chichester and went to work in London, but only for a short time. He moved up to Swaledale to work for another potter. Not sure of his name. This was all before I met him.
He started his pottery in Shere around 1975 and we married in1976. We had 3 children and in 1984 he had all sorts of problems health wise and we moved to a pub near Midhurst called the Potter and Vine now known as The Bluebell. He died 13 years ago of cancer.
J Otway- Number of posts : 2
Location : Manchester
Registration date : 2013-08-05
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
Welcome to the forum. It's lovely to have some biographical information about the potters who's work we collect.
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
I second that, lovely to add information to my archives. I wonder who the Swaledale potter was, not sure how long the Garden Pottery has been in Reeth
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
I've tried to contact Jan Otway to get some advice on setting up a pottery in Shere but have not had any replies to my emails this last year. Anbody know where she is?
Anybody have any thoughts on a pottery in shere?
Anybody have any thoughts on a pottery in shere?
alexthepotter- Number of posts : 2
Location : surrey
Registration date : 2013-10-16
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
I went to see the curator at the Shere Musuem yesterday. They had a very poor piece that they attributed to Chris but definitely was not his work, it was too amateurish. However I did speak to the grocer on the square who remembered Chris (and the white clogs at his wedding) and they happened to have a pot of his, which they use for general stationery. It was for the local hunt in 1981. I recommended one day they should donate it to the museum. Anybody else that has a pot by Chris, can you donate it to the museum (please) by getting in touch with the curator? http://www.sheremuseum.co.uk/
Here are a few pics from the day including the old pottery (you have to guess to see which one it is) https://www.dropbox.com/sh/747jpha7hnhmc7w/AAAGlR8s4z5_ysLX8nK6cZ85a?dl=0
Here are a few pics from the day including the old pottery (you have to guess to see which one it is) https://www.dropbox.com/sh/747jpha7hnhmc7w/AAAGlR8s4z5_ysLX8nK6cZ85a?dl=0
alexthepotter- Number of posts : 2
Location : surrey
Registration date : 2013-10-16
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
Good idea, Alex. If I ever come across one the museum will have first choice.
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Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
A couple of small mugs to add to the library
A think the quality of these mugs speaks for themselves
A think the quality of these mugs speaks for themselves
Celtic_Fan- Number of posts : 478
Location : Kent
Registration date : 2011-04-03
Re: Chris Otway, The Shere Potter, Surrey
I've just read through this thread and I have had a small cabinet vase (4.5 inch tall) made by Chris Otway on my shelf for a while, I don't know if it's worked but I've tried to contact the Museum to see if I can donate it.
stardust*- Number of posts : 409
Age : 58
Location : Derbyshire UK
Registration date : 2015-06-29
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