Bernard Rooke

have you been yet Phil?

No. Main problem with getting to Peterborough at the moment is that they are redoing the A14, and traffic is a nightmare on it.
Wonder if Graham has a warehouse extension to his house? Where would you put all those ginormous Lampbases?

Hi, Graham.

Perhaps you know what the figures mean on a lamp base I have. (see previous page)...



/ 130

1467

I guess the 35/- is the price in old money - 35 shillings (nearly two quid)

The £1/15 shillings old money price would date it to pre-decimilisation in 1971. So that would make it made in one of his London studios, as he did not move to Swilliland Near Ipswich until 1973.

philpot wrote:The £1/15 shillings old  money price would date it to pre-decimilisation in 1971. So that would make it made in one of his London studios, as he did not move to Swilliland Near Ipswich until 1973.

Many thanks, Phil

The vase I have has 12V written on the base. I just wonder if Bernard has any kind of record of dates for these numbers.


You mention £1/15 shillings but the lamp base has 35/- on it. Is that what you are referring to?

Before decimalisation it was complicated. There were 240 pence to the £, 12 pence to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound.
So 35/- is 35 shillings. £1 15 shillings.
Then of course you had half a crown coins. Which were 2/6. 2 shillings and 6 pence.
The coinage actually ran. Farthing. Half Pence. Three pence. 6 pence. 1 shilling. 2 shillings. Half a Crown. 10 shilling paper note. I pound note.

Thanks -- I see where it comes from.

I've just done a rough calculation and it seems that 35/- in 1970 would be equal to about 30 quid today.

Hi, I’ve recently purchased this lamp which I am pretty sure is Rooke. I didn’t know this at the time i bought it because I loved it! Can anyone help date it? It was purchased from a charity shop so it would be interesting to know it’s value though I’m not looking to sell! Thanks

Bernard Rooke moved to Swilliland pottery near Ipswich in 1973. This style of decoration dates from then. He worked with his sons, and production was quite substantial. Precise dating is very difficult, but generally the lamp bases tended to be more from the earlier years. But equally this one could be later. Nice Rooke piece, with a lot going on.
For value you would have to check the sold items on Ebay, as we don't give valuations on here.

Phillpot thank you for your advice. Yes it’s a great piece, really heavy!

All the hallmarks of a recent piece, but nice anyway, and never seen one before.

Its unsigned..all advice gratefully accepted !

Definitely not Shelf. Bernard Rooke is most likely. A bit too rough for Hudson. Wallwork is a maybe.

Wallwork would be nice !

Trouble is, you will never really know. These lamp bases were produced in very large quantities in the early 60's at the Greenwich studios, for Heals and the CPA etc. Quote from the Wallwork website.
'
'Up to fourteen at one time made up my band of assistants. Half this number would be working on tile decoration or the range of simple stoneware vase or lamp base forms, the more skilled working directly with me on the large “totemic” forms I was then making, especially while Heal’s and the CPA were showing a voracious demand for them. The buyer at Heals, the prestigious furniture store in Tottenham Court Road, had given me an almost free hand to keep pots rolling in. These assistants ,under direct supervision, built up a group of forms, a few inches at a time, while I moved amongst them, altering the direction of the form as I judged was necessary. I was even able to use the differing finger marks of a particular assistant as a source of texturing, changing to another assistant’s to introduce another pattern element as the forms grew. It was exhilarating but it grew increasingly difficult to maintain freshness in what I was turning out in great quantities. “ Do repeats!” the Heals buyer advocated but I wasn’t keen on that solution.'
Louis Hudson was amongst those assistants. On top of this Bernard Rooke worked in the basement, and the Fourniers were on the first floor. There was obviously a lot of fluidity and quickness in the working environment. Presumably there was a lot of variety in quality.
And there's the rub! What do you think of the quality of this piece?

Now things would be different if everyone marked their pieces ...but that's another thread...

Another one with Rooke’s mark

https://pin.it/42qusiyd3s6jc7

In effect of course, Bernard Rooke was a cottage industry as well. His sons worked at Swilliland, and the Bernard Rooke mark in all its form has to be approached more like the a St Ives or Aldermaston generic mark. Cos they produced a great deal!

Naomi...looks very very similar

Has a hollow base but no signature ..all help as usual much appreciated

Should hav epost this pic as well

The cooker isnt important

Looks like an upside-down Bernard Rooke Goblet.

What an idiot i am.... just looked on line and you are right..Thanks Potty

brin mcardle wrote:What an idiot i am.... just looked on line and you are right..Thanks Potty