Susie Cooper 1902-1995

Susie Cooper was one of the most important women designers in the British pottery industry. Underpinning her career was an understanding of customer taste and the latest trends in contemporary art gently mixed with an English restraint that made her work so popular.

During the twenties she worked as a designer at A.E. Gray introducing a wide range of new patterns based on the limitations and possibilities of both hand painted decoration and the skills of the work force. Designs included geometric and banded patterns alongside a number of Gloria Lustre patterns which were exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition in 1924 and a year later at the Exposition Des Arts Decoratifs et Industrials Modernes in Paris in 1925.

In 1929 Susie Cooper had set up her own factory with the intention to introduce good design for those people with more taste than money strongly believing that one should not have to pay for style.
She introduced a range of practical and functional shapes such as Kestrel 1932.

In 1940 Susie Cooper was awarded the honour of Royal Designer for Industry, the only woman from the potteries to be awarded such recognition. During the early fifties she had moved into bone china production with some being shown at the Festival of Britain in 1951. Her Can shape, from 1958, was used for a number of successful patterns such as Cornpoppy. In 1966 Susie Cooper Ltd., were taken over by Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd. She was awarded the honour of receiving an Order of the British Empire.

I'm not really keen on Susie Cooper overall, but I really like this little chap. Can't identify the pattern though. Anyone know? It's got 1165 on the base, which puts it at 1939-40 I believe.

Dunno the pattern , but Kestrel shape

http://www.susiecooper.net/shapes.html

Any idea of the age of this..and the pattern...presumably a small serving tureen

I think that it's a version of "Dresden Spray" that she introduced in 1935. There were variations of this pattern introduced at later dates - is there a number under Susie Cooper England, as that would help? The pattern was popular and continued to be produced until around 1960.

As requested

Although the number in the box looks like 1917 I think that it is 1017, which was one of the original variations that was introduced in 1935, with a "blue/green wash"

Marks like this were used from 1932 -1965

The pattern number (painted in black) is from late 1931/early 1932 so you can be fairly certain that we are talking 1932.

Wow ! Thank you both very much !
Bought about 15 years ago, style 1930s but I was always afraid it could be
a late reproduction, marks until 1965 as suspected.
But i´m happy to read that we are talking 1932 due to the pattern number.

Thanks again. Much appreciated !
Volker

Some patterns were in production for many years but even they tended to vary slightly and those patterns were the stylised flower ones rather than geometric patterns, which had a much shorter life. I can't imagine that it was in production for more than 2 or 3 years.

I love these cubist designs by Susie Cooper, IMO far superior to anything that Clarice Cliff was producing at the time.

"it looks in remarkable [suspicious] condition for an 80 yr old piece " (Big ED) , that´s what i think.
Apologies, Bid Ed, for destroying your post . Do you mind writing it again ?
Volker

I don't tell everyone this (until now) but the first pottery that I ever collected was Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper. The innocence of youth.

I remember you did mention the Clarice Cliff Faux pas

Oh Lordy

Hi nice item-I have this piece as well as the early colour version E/110. The pattern E/276 seems to have been in production longer but was certainly phased out my 1933/34 when washbanding and transfer prints came in.

These block patterns were very different from her Grays pieces as they left a lot of plain ground. Susie Cooper recalled that she didnt dislike the earlier grays geometrics but it was the execution that she disliked.

I wish I knew how to upload images-I could send one of the E/110 on a very Georgian coffee pot which looks fanstastic. I have a susie cooper face book page!

Hi this is a wonderful and rare Susie Cooper item : A Kestrel tea pot decorated with the E/110 pattern. I could have bought a similar piece in 1988 for £100

Can anyone tell me the dates this mark was used?

list of susie cooper wedgwood marks here, yours looks like 69-74

http://www.susiecooper.net/marks3.html

Thank you

Thanks

I wrote that the backstamp dates from 1969 after Wedgwood took her factory over. From 1966 to that date they put MEMBER OF THE WEDGWOOD GROUP with previous mark until new mark was created.

just a quick bump on this old thread just to say i have been researching and learning all about susie cooper designs over her career, and i am happy to try and help with any questions on patterns and dates over her career, i have asked for help on this forum so happy to give it back wherever possible, i normally log in every couple days or so so wont be instant, i have several reference books to consult as well as what i have learned in general x

1930s or later? And does this pattern have a name?