Geoffrey Whiting, Avoncroft & St Augustine

Article about Geoffrey Whiting in the AP Newsletter -

https://www.anglianpotters.org.uk/userfiles/file/newsletters/AP-Newlsletter-Spring-2021.pdf



Here are some images of the bases and marks of two pieces of Avoncroft Pottery - one piece of standard domestic ware and the other a Geoffrey Whiting individual piece: -

Set up Avoncroft Pottery at Avoncroft, Worcestershire in about 1950. He moved the pottery to Hampton Lovett, Worcestershire in 1955. Closed Avoncroft in 1971 and started St Augustine's Pottery in Canterbury, Kent. Whiting carried on potting there while teaching at Kings School, Canterbury and Medway College of Art and Design.

Now that we have a thread I can add an image of a porcelain teapot of Geoffrey's that I sold last year.

It was made in Canterbury most probably in the early 1980s.

Certainly towards the end of his life it was his teapots that he was most noted for. The collector, Bill Ismay, bought a number and these are now in the collection in York.

The one above is in Eire.

One of the most underestimated potters in the Leach tradition.

Often known as 'The Potters Potter'. Probably one of the best potters of the Leach tradition. Justifiably famous for his teapots,which are simply gorgeous.

Chawan

25cm tall

Small green vase. Only has the Avoncroft Mark and not Whitings personal seal.

Bowl or Chawan, again no personal seal.

Found this in a charity shop today, it's unfortunately had a small piece glued back on lid and has a small chip inside the lid. I bought it nevertheless as I don't come across Geoffrey Whiting pottery very often, never have in fact, especially with his personal seal. I considered just how much of a difference a little damage makes on a piece by such a fine potter...it's good enough for my shelf.

Chunky celadon mug/tankard, 11.5cm tall. The "A" mark only.

Anyone got a mark for Whiting’s St Augustine’s Pottery?

Sorry, Naomi, and to be honest I can't remember seeing it on anything. I assume, as he was teaching at the time, he didn't make a great deal.

22 cms a side footed dish.

So I took this picture at an auction preview along time ago. Glaze filled mark.
But who made it? A quality piece. Geoffrey Whiting comes to mind immediately. But no A mark. David Leach? Ursula Mommens? What is the audience opinion?

Alan Brough?

I think it might be Derek Emms.

I have just had a change of mind............. to Geoffrey Whiting.

……………….. and have now added an image of a porcelain teapot of his that I sold back in 2012 to the "Geoffrey Whiting" thread. If my memory serves me correctly it only had his personal seal.

A porcelain Geoffrey Whiting teapot that I sold back in 2012.

Thanks Studio. If I remember rightly it did not sell for a Derek Emms Price.... more a Geoffrey Whiting. Somebody with enough money to back a hunch!

Nice....! Of that vague Leach school thingy I think geoffrey whting made the best teapots. Obviously Edmond De Waal had an extremely good teacher....ahem

About 2 minutes after writing Derek Emms I passed by a Geoffrey Whiting plate here with almost the same brush decoration....... hence why I changed my mind. I then searched to see if I had a photo of the Geoffrey Whiting teapots that I bought together and luckily I had one of the right one.

Yes. It's a shame that Eddie didn't have enough technical skill to make anything vaguely as good. However, I suppose his self promotion skills have more than made up for it, from his point of view.