Bath Pottery - Steve Mills & Richard Freeman (see also John Shelly)

I can't get a decent photo but it's definitely RF and the only letter you can make out in the word above Pottery is a B. The word is much shorter than pottery so could be Bath.

studio-pots wrote:These types of dishes were made by hundreds of potters in the 1950s and with no BATH POTTERY mark, no VELLOW mark and no Richard Freeman personal mark it is not possible to say that it was definitely by him or was made at either of these potteries. It maybe by him but unless he is asked (I know he was still alive a few years ago) then I can't see how anyone can say that it is definitely by him or where it was made.

To be fair SP I think with this particular piece I believe a mark was not needed. The way the slab was cut (with a wire and wire marks left on display), clay, glaze, decoration and form are all a match and I've never seen pots like these that check all those boxes, but I could be wrong.

Without a mark I don't think it is correct to use the word definite unless you have some other actual provenance.

Now that I have seen the image of the mark under the glaze, which hadn't been spotted/mentioned, that is a different matter, as it is the BATH POTTERY impressed mark and the personal mark of Richard Freeman and so the word definite can be used.

Here is it without any glaze.

studio-pots wrote:Without a mark I don't think it is correct to use the word definite unless you have some other actual provenance.

Fair enough point and I would also not "officially" say this was his with without some form of caveat, I.e. "Looks like", but I was 99.9% convinced it was his

If I was selling this I would have no issue saying "Richard Freeman" for the title, but I would mention in the description that it is unmarked (as we thought it was), but that I was almost certain it was his.

Hi a very nice raw piece from Bath pottery. Its has a very nice feel in the hands - a very nice quality item

Hi,

I am new here. I have this 2 pieces of pottery. Is this Richard Freeman work?

Thanks for your answer.
Can you guess when they were made and there worth ?

we don't do valuations but ebay completed listings and auction results might give you a ballpark value

Thanks for your answers.

NaomiM wrote:Ian said he found an RF mark

If it’s the one you exposed by some witchcraft (not saying you are a witch!!!) but definitely far too technical for mere mortals like me!
The r was on the left of the F bit like Ray Finch I think but not the slanted r!
This one is the same as one you posted on Pinterest …..with the other 55,999
It occurred to me that Freeman apparently didn’t start potting at Bath until 56 (acc to Bible) when JS sold Bath to him.
No matter just wondered

Definitely not this RF mark Naomi