Ambleside Pottery

Hi - Apologies for the delay. I was still not sure what to do about the bird but have decided to put this in a local auction - SAS Auctions in Newbury and in their next Antiques and Collectibles Auction on 4th Jan 2023 (Lot No 27) - this can of course be collected from Newbury or the auction
house also send items by post.

Lot 27 of 451:George Cook (1919-1982) for Ambleside Pottery, a studio pottery bird, possibly a stylised pheasant, 34cm high with some damage AF: Estimate £200 - £300 - George Cook (1919-1982) for Ambleside Pottery, a studio pottery bird, possibly a stylised pheasant, 34cm high with some damage AF

I won't post the link as its probably against forum rules.

Buyers Premium: 25% + VAT (total 30%)

Lots purchased online with the-saleroom.com will attract an additional charge for this service in the sum of 5% of the hammer price plus VAT at the rate imposed (total 6%) I assume you can avoid this.

total 36% if you go through the saleroom + postage.

so equates to £272 to £408 + postage.

Is that right?

Bid £200 and it’ll cost you £260 plus shipping around £35 i would think….they ship in house but they are usually around that from memory for this house….so just under £300 minimum if that’s the reserve….

This one. Not really comparable, the fish are later and moulded. Leach54321's bird is singed CooK and look at the work he put into the body. I could see it perching perfectly happily alongside a Margaret Hine bird on someone's mantle piece.


https://live.adampartridge.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/catalog/268/lot/186988?url=%2Fm%2Fsearch%3Fkey%3Dambleside%26xclosed%3Dno

The fish is now in my collection……along with a large cook pike dated 54 and very pleased with it too…the chicken is a different concept and will appeal to lots of Ambleside collectors as it’s more arty….I know where there are 3 all sat on a shelf….I will get my hands on them one day…

A peculiar anthropomorphic mug.

Yes, well the Puritan ones are strange but this goes a little further. Gremlins sneaking up on a Seagull? and a hedgehog?

That’s really cool…..if you’re selling let me know it can join the other 100 plus pieces of hand painted Ambleside….Hedgehogs are often added to the hand painted more “different” subjects painted by Jill…..the dragons all have one biting tails or similar….

A scarce “Cook” piece from Ambleside pottery….Even his sgraffito work is distinctive….Lustre to the brown glaze…Complete with its matching stand….Large size at just over 6” and signed only “Cook” ….

Brian is the book finished?

I have written the first couple of lines…..see if you agree…..George Frederick Cook was a pioneer of pottery in the English Lake District.Founding a pottery in the backwater of Ambleside in 1948 while the country was still under rationing was a very confident move on his part underpinning a self assured confidence in his own talents……..Something like that then a load of pics and some info on designers and monograms and some pieces some won’t have seen…..

Interesting to fit him in withing the British pottery post war movement as a whole, where does he sit? Was there not an explosion of inventive ceramics after the war, a big rejection of the past in the arts world. Who do you think were his influences?

I have no idea about his influences….i would have liked to have chatted to him about his ideas….I do know people who knew him…..but that’s not the same and is always hearsay ……so I will just leave him as the potter who lighted up the lakes in the 1950s and 1960s and left a legacy many people enjoy….now more than then I imagine….

A charming little half pint slipware mug. Just marked AMBLESIDE stamp. A steal on Etsy    

Very nice colour…….and the classic “Cook” thumb on the top of the handle…..scarce things in mint condition….

Brian - I'm assuming that these half pinters were the female equivalent of the pint ones and as Leach pottery are just not that common as they did not sell well?

Kids look at you like you are mad if you say 'back in my day' in a pub women only ever drank a half point or a short and mixer, as it was seen as 'ladylike' - Women did not drink pints in pubs.

I don’t think too many survived of what was made…..I’m sure people used them I know someone who uses theirs daily as coffee mugs…..in the sink to wash and all…..I like them I like it all really but some more than others…

Delighted to add this fish to my collection.Love the black tiger stripes to the head….despite a small firing crack to the back fin it’s well worthy of being a keeper…for now…Marked for Ambleside in script…9.5” body length….

Jealous   , do you think they are all 100% individual or did they make just a handful of each? If I decorated that it would be hard not to make a few in that pattern