Alan Caiger-Smith and apprentices, Aldermaston Pottery

There is a list of most of the Aldermaston potters marks on the Aldermaston thread . Its basically judging the one that is closest to yours. Because they were often done quickly, it is often difficult to judge exactly. This one looks as tho it might be early in someone's apprenticeship. That blank white above the handle is extremely unusual for an Aldermaston piece, and those lines at the top look distinctly wonky.

The apprentices always had an A for Aldermaston and another letter or two from their name. This might be AT or AF

Great, I’ll check the lists.

Thank you again.

Looks familiar; AT mark and G mark. I thought Wye Pottery but can’t match the mark.

Aldermaston in some shape of form? The decoration looks of the style of Aldermaston , but not quite. The prominent A does make one wonder if is a loosely written Aldermaston mark. Or possibly one of the many potters who worked there and loosely worked on in an Aldermaston style for a period?

Not all the apprentices’ marks are recorded . This seems to be by a fairly junior apprentice so maybe they didn’t stay long

Cheers. I was so sure it was something like Wye because of the shape and decoration that I dismissed Aldermaston. If it is by her then it must have been her own design; I haven’t seen other Aldermaston lidded boxes

Oh well, I’d better learn the marks for Caiger smith and Edgar Campden as they seem to be the sought after makers.

Thank you both!

This maybe another example of this mystery mark. I think it’s AF - Jane Follet, maybe?

benwilliams wrote:Oh well, I’d better learn the marks for Caiger smith and Edgar Campden as they seem to be the sought after makers.

There are keen collectors for Aldermaston pottery but Alan Caiger-Smith does command a premium. For the rest it depends on the decoration. Some pieces are more decorative than others.

Example of Miranda Shackleton Thomas’s mark from her own collection

Miranda Thomas Shackleton confirmed its one of hers, from her time at Aldermaston

NaomiM wrote:

An Alan Caiger Smith Albarello vase in a Cambridge gallery.

Alan Caiger Smith lustre in a Cambridge gallery

Alan Caiger Smith lu
stre piece in a Cambridge gallery

Alan Caiger Smith

Alan Caiger Smith

Andrew Hazelden is definitely one of the more interesting and long lasting potters that practiced at Aldermaston. He is probably the only potter left still making in such a strongly Aldermaston style. As his show page at his present Yarnton pottery illustrates.
http://www.yarntonpottery.net/shop

He started worked at Aldermaston in 1984. He was one of the people who carried on as a self employed potter at the site after the Aldermaston pottery as such closed in 1994. In fact he worked there right up until the premises finally shut in 2006. It is quite noticeable how many of the lustre pieces that Alan Caiger Smith made post 1994, also bear Andrew Hazelden's initials as a contributor the the making of those pieces.