Katie (Kathleen) Horsman - ceramics teacher Edinburgh College of Art

Katie Horsman taught ceramics at Edinburgh College of Art from 1942. She could make pots in a wide range of styles, but her main sold works were perhaps her large sculptural (often lustreware) cats, and small stoneware bird vases where small sprays of plant would form the tail or head feathers. Works usually signed with a capital  "H", either inscribed, or brushed in bark pigment. The cross-bar on the "H" is often as long, or longer, than the uprights of the letter, and often not centrally placed. This sometimes makes it look like an "F". Katie taught my mum (Joan Faithfull) pottery at Edinburgh after WW2, and remained a lifelong friend. She had strong links with American studio potters eg Jim and Nan McKinnell, Sheldon Kaganoff, and was a big influence on David Cohen when he studied at Edinburgh from 1958. This pot is about 10-12cm long.

Here's another of Katie Horsman's small stoneware bird vases, also owned by my mum. You can see the inscribed "H" mark under the felt base. Pot about 10cm long..

I love the glaze on that 2nd one

The glazes on the birds are very diverse, and the exact design varies a lot as well. I wonder if every single one was intended to be uniquely individual? Mostly/all stoneware though - don't think I've ever seen an earthenware one. Here's another one -(similar size to the others -  about 10cm long) You can see the "H" mark under the felt base.

Just came across the wonderful ceramic cow by Katie Horsman in the Argyll council teaching art collection:

https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/argyllcollection/artwork/sleck-cow



Some other nice ceramics in the collection, several unidentified. I've emailed them to see if there are any marks we could look at

I’ve had these two wonderful horses for several years but am still trying to identify them. One is 14” long, signed Katie H, Claremont 1961. I believe she may have been in the US at this time (Claremont College in California perhaps?). The other is a pitcher, 8”H, signed Katie H 1955. I have found birds of hers signed with an H a bit similar to this. Any help identifying these pieces is appreciated. I tried adding photos but got error messages.

Very nice to see that horse - definitely by Katie Horsman! The design of a cheerful animal or bird, as a ornamental container was something she did a lot. I don't think this was intended to be a functional jug (impossible to clean), but rather a vase for flowers etc. She sometimes provided written instructions with such pots, stating that the holes should contain plant fronds, flowers or feathers to make the item complete, as in this hilarious instruction she provided with one of her ceramic cat sculptures which she may have given to my mum.

You should definitely put wee flowers, or feathers etc in the horse :)

Thank you very much! I’m so glad to finally figure out who made these charming horses!