Humfrey Wakefield

by **potterymad62** March 16th 2013, 7:29 pm

Vase by the late Humfrey Wakefield.
The Garrison Pottery St Mary's Isles of Scilly, sadly he passed away a few years ago in 2010.

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by **potterymad62** March 16th 2013, 8:05 pm

skipposal wrote:Great glaze. Was he a full-time potter?

Yes he was. He became a potter almost by accident.

https://www.british-handmadepotteryresales.co.uk/cornish-pottery-blog/params/post/3999108/humfrey-wakefield-pottery-the-garrison-pottery-st-marys-isles-of-scilly

After learning to fly Tiger Moths, Harvards and Wellingtons, the war finished and Humfrey went to Oxford, where he studied classical history and philosophy, including archaeology and Greek pottery.

He was fascinated by the way the Greeks made their pots and vases, and stuck them together, so after a crash course in pottery lasting a fortnight, and making his own potter's wheel – which he still uses – he established himself as a potter. His potter's wheel is astonishing: "I developed it from the old fashioned lathes for turning wood, pedalling with one foot. I thought it was ridiculous using one foot – so mine uses two. I made it in 1955 – I have an electric one too but never use it."

He set up his pottery in his father's house on the Isles of Scilly where it remains today – as far away from potential customers as it was possible to be. Fortunately, a contract arrived for flower vases for P&O and then came Prime Minister Harold Wilson, complete with pipe, pint and an ill-fitting pair of shorts. It triggered the development of tourism on the islands. Customers began to arrive by boat and helicopter, and Humfrey's ergonomically designed wheel. Even at the age of 84 the word "retirement" does not enter his vocabulary and his moped still roars up the steep hill into town with pedestrians jumping to one side for survival

Humfrey Wakefield <a href=

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Humfrey in 2000 Most Excellent

by **skipposal** March 16th 2013, 8:08 pm

How fantastic. He looks a real character!

by **NaomiM** March 16th 2013, 8:42 pm

Almost bought one of his on ebay but was out bid. Beautiful vase:

http://pinterest.com/pin/175077504236290331/

by **vanmann** March 18th 2013, 9:00 pm

I listed this nice one, albeit a small one, twice last month at £3.00 and didn't even get a watcher never mind a bid

Humfrey Wakefield Ebay_f10

by **vanmann** March 19th 2013, 9:03 am

3 1/2inches tall

by **skipposal** March 19th 2013, 12:07 pm

It might be just me, but that gold label would have put me off. I don't associate them with studio pottery Shrugs

by **vanmann** March 19th 2013, 1:56 pm

It has also got the usual printed stamp to base

by **DIANE** March 19th 2013, 4:00 pm

My sister tried to sell this one of my mothers but it didn't get any interest.

by **Davee** March 24th 2013, 5:52 pm

Recent find

Humfrey Wakefield Img_3911

by **potterymad62** August 17th 2016, 3:16 pm

Nice Humfrey Wakefield tankard.

Humfrey Wakefield Dsc02311

by **Leach54321** March 20th 2019, 5:14 pm

This is a lovely studio pottery bowl with a nice glaze and 3 shell shaped feet and a stylized monogram which looks like WHJ or WJH - can anyone help ID please

by **philpot** March 20th 2019, 5:37 pm

Hugh West possibly?

by **NaomiM** March 20th 2019, 8:00 pm

By Humfrey Wakefield, Isles of Scilly.

by **Leach54321** March 21st 2019, 3:50 pm

That's great - thank you for your help.

by **studio-pots** March 22nd 2019, 3:48 pm

This little jug around 3 inches tall (7.6 cm) sits in my office and until I saw something on the Forum a day or so ago I had forgotten who made it.

by **potterymad62** August 22nd 2021, 1:48 pm

Humfrey Wakefield pottery butter dish with embossed cow on the lid. Blue marks on the base, possibly one of his rarer pieces. The third photo is showing the inside of pot.