Bretby Art Pottery - Henry Tooth & Co. Ltd

Very similar to the Clanta vase but not stamped the same.

The shape is from 1914, but I don't know if it has a "name" as such.

Thanks, I know Bretby is difficult to date and the pattern numbers don't always go in date order!?

Yes the shape numbers (if the piece has one) are documented,
but they did thousands of designs.

On the face of it this is clearcut. It's a vase with a transfer printed 'Indian Tree' type pattern, and clearly marked 'Bretby England 1165' underneath.
However, there's something about it that doesn't seem right and I can't quite put my finger on why. It just doesn't look like a Bretby piece, I can't ever recall seeing an Indian Tree type of pattern on Bretby, it appears too new, and I don't recall seeing Bretby marked like this one.
What do you knowledgeable folk think? Is it a very late piece of Bretby or a modern fake?

They did do some pretty mundane stuff in the later years.
Not sure why anyone would go to the trouble of faking it.
The specific mark is not in the book. The shape number, if correct is from 1897,
but they could just have re-used an old mould.

It's a pleasant enough vase, I suppose, and I do like the shape, but Bretby is the last name I'd have expected to see on its bum. Johnson Brothers would have been my guess as Indian Tree was one of their more popular ranges. It still sells quite well on ebay with almost half of all listings selling.
Still, Bretby it is, then. I don't deal in pots nor sell on ebay (too much hassle these days, and apparently telling the chancers to f@#k off gets one negative feedback, plus the rules are too heavily weighted in favour of the buyers - even the blatant cheats) so I've got a feeling it might find its way to a charity shop.

Hello - I’m new around here. I pick up bits and pieces here and there and would really like to learn what to look for, to pick up those more expensive pieces. My first half decent find is this Bratby bowl. I was able to research the era (1920’s). I’d be appreciative of any more info and whether or not this particular piece is common or worth anything to a collector. The letters LS are near the number, I’m not sure what these mean. . Thank you.

Bretby has fallen out of fashion these days so not particularly collectible, even though there are some lovely pieces out there. Best to check sold and completed listings on eBay for an idea of what buyers are prepared to pay for them.

Thank you for your opinion. I had checked Enay, however only a small number of items are listed and non like my piece. I may just take a gamble and list and see what happens. Thanks again.

Akelly84 wrote:Thank you for your opinion. I had checked Ebay, however only a small number of items are listed and non like my piece. I may just take a gamble and list and see what happens. Thanks again.

One of the reasons that we don't give price suggestions here is that they change continuously and will always depend of where and who is selling a specific piece.

I am old enough to remember the days when "Art Pottery" was popular here in the UK and I used to sell it myself. Even back then Bretby, which falls into this category, was not well regarded and it was only some of the earlier pieces that were sought after i.e. before 1914 but especially 19th century pieces.

Your bowl appears to me to be part of the Nerton Ware range that consisted of glaze effects and the colour is probably what was described as "Gold-stone". This range was brought into production in 1920 but the shape number code on the bottom of your bowl suggests to me that your piece is post 1925.

I suspect that your bowl will sell to someone that likes the shape and the colour rather than a specific Bretby collector, if such a person exists.

Shape No2806 was introduced in the early 1920s.
I would suggest it is a bulb bowl.

While tidying up I came across the following story: -

It appears that when Neville Chamberlain went to Munich in 1938 for his famous/infamous meeting with Adolf Hitler he took along a Bretby jug in the shape of George VII as a gift for Hilter. This jug when raised played the national anthem and it is said that Hitler was delighted with the gift. So much so that he instructed that it was taken to his air raid shelter when alerts occurred.

Not sure how true it is but that should get in the way of a good story.

denbydump wrote:Shape No2806 was introduced in the early 1920s.
I would suggest it is a bulb bowl.

Some years ago I was able to find out that shape 2326 was introduced in 1924 and I suggested post 1925 for this bowl as I have assumed that shape numbers got higher the later they were introduced. Obviously, that assumption might not be correct.

Thank you for your knowledge sharing, very much appreciated. I love learning about the history of these odds and sods I come across. The Hitler story is interesting, even if unverified, I’ll run with that.

Assuming the numbers are consecutive, 2326 would be during WW1.
From the basic guide given in the Bretby book.

Thank you Denbydump - for the shape and clarification of bowl shape as well, really useful to know. I just adore the colour.

denbydump wrote:Assuming the numbers are consecutive, 2326 would be during WW1.
From the basic guide given in the Bretby book.

I was going to write that I couldn't remember where I got my information about 1924 from, which is still the case but I have found the following quotes. These come from the Encyclopaedia of British Art Pottery by Victoria Bergesen (edited by Geoffrey Godden) published in 1991.

These are direct quotes from two editions of The Pottery & Glass Trade Review at the time: -

(i) September 1921 - "Nerton Ware in shapes from 68 to 2217, and Carved Bamboo Wares in shapes from 901 to 2492."
(ii) April 1925 "the firm was employing some 2600 models" i.e. shapes.

These don't marry with shape 2326 being introduced in 1924 though.

I'm assuming this is a shape 39 bowl. One in the V&A is credited to Woodville and as having been designed in 1950. Muted greenish colour with slightly brown marks and breaks in the glaze.

Bretby bear with bowl. I’ve found similar bears on tree shaped vases but not one with a bowl. Partial stamp. Seems to be numbered 1246A and 4652?

Chinese style, Bronze-effect pottery vase. Bretby, maybe? Reg no: 81652?

Rd for 1887. There is a Bretby Dragon vase from this period, of "pressed" construction,
with serpents and handles. After 1915 they were made cheaper by using moulds, and
in the process lost the handles. The were done in monochrome glazes, including the
bronze effect. I suspect No7 is the size, or a design variation.
I would be pretty confident it is Bretby.

I go Bretby, to!

Cheers :)