Celtic pottery (Newlyn & Mousehole)

It's impossible to precisely date the labels or pieces,
The earliest piece I own was made in 1959 and was bought directly from the Fishers

CF/Dan

Fully understand exact dates not possible but it should be possible to break the timelines up and point those labels into 'periods'. CF point taken on label colour. Surely the Maggie only labels must be post split? non?

1958 Studio. Mousehole
196? Celtic Pottery
1968 Split
1970s Newlyn
1982 Close
Bills Later work?

"Designed and made by Margaret Fisher Mousehole, Cornwall"

Long Man impressed mark with label - Vase is prosaic and nothing special

 

Ever since I first set eyes on Celtic pottery I have dreamed of owning one of Bill Fisher's unicorn busts and today I finally got one

I also couldn't resist buying this magnificent Bill Fisher bull today

rare 5 inch bull made by Bill in the 1970's  after he left Maggi and moved to Somerset

Bill Fisher king chess piece

      Very recognisable style. Still amazed that he hand modelled (carved) each one from scratch . Most would have resorted to moulds or a simpler form so the numbers could up. That chess piece looks like a little Inca/Aztec god statue

Bill made it for someone who already had a full set of hand made chess pieces but wasn't happy with his efforts but I don't think all the pieces were fully hand made from a ball of clay

Understood, bits stuck on an built up but there is relief everywhere. Nothing is left flat if it could have some texture added. They are not thrown hollow body with a pair of horns stuck on and two holes for eyes.

How could anyone not be happy with that chess king

I'm fairly sure most of his terracotta work was hand made. Even when the same item, they are all individual and not identical in size. He clearly had a technique, which allowed him to make items almost the same. But I think they would be more common, if they were molded (even if added to afterwards). Even the unicorn heads which look the same are not all exactly the same size - I have 2 and the are about an inch different in height.
Just think about how few we see and how many years Bill was working. Even those small animals which we see a few more of, are all slightly different.

However, I do suspect that mermaid on a rock (from a few years ago) and the knight on horseback (which I have) are probably from a mold. So not sure why these haven't turned up any 2nd examples??

That 5 inch Bull is interesting. I've not seen any of his work made like that before - flat body and sculpted head. Strange - but I like it.

the small bull is also my favorite piece as it is so unusual
I talked to Maggi a few years ago and she said they made a very large number of unicorns so they may turn up on the market when the original owners pop their clogs

in the 2nd pic you can see Ev unloading Medallion range pottery from the kiln

dantheman wrote:
I talked to Maggi a few years ago and she said they made a very large number of unicorns so they may turn up on the market when the original owners pop their clogs

That is my suspicion about why Bills terracotta work seems so rare.
I suspect it is loved so much, the original owners still have most of it

But I'm quite happy if they are only moving to a smaller house and 'down sizing', so thinning out there belongings. They don't have to 'pop their clogs'.

the small bull and king arrived by post today and the detail is stunning!!!!
I have added more pics (above)

8 inch bowl decorated with rare archer on horseback design

Never seen any thing like it Dan.

no it's a first for me too

I was trying to explain how to non pot people that we can get excited about relatively ordinary things just because they are extremely uncommon rather than inherently better work. So for example DD would get excited if he found a piece of Denby in a new colourway (experimental?) and for the non collector this looks normal compared to a common piece...but .....for the connoisseur (an expert judge in matters of taste) it's exciting!

personally I tend to move on from the production stuff when the top man leaves a pottery, it happened with Poole pottery and with Celtic

I can see one off colourways and limited editions being more collectable in production pottery - Anita Harris, for example - but its a tricky thing when it's a studio potter who's known for a certain style of pot. If they try something experimental will it be less or more collectable than what they are better known for?

the one trick pony trap

Celtic Pottery jug signed by Bill Fisher, it stands approx. 12 " high and is quite heavily potted.