Nicholas Vergette - one of the Piccassettes

Nicholas Vergette, who was born in Lincolnshire in 1923, was one of the group of tin glazed earthenware artists working in London during the 1950s that were given the name of “Piccassettes” by the potter, Bernard Leach, for fairly obvious reasons. He shared a studio in Bayswater with William Newland and Margaret Hine, who were the other members of the group.

Vergette had trained as a painter at Chelsea School of Art and was only active in this country for a short period, as he emigrated to the States in 1958 and remained there until his death in 1974.

The above vessel was known as a “Cactus Pot” and is around 13 inches tall.

I thought I recognised this , there is a similar piece in the millers guide 2009, page 115, small point John , how is the first name spelt , in two books I have -Nicola ? Nicolas ? and yours so male or female ?

interesting tem piccassettes the french use pique-assietes for people who steal ideas tho origionally its people who nick food of other peoples plates or come uninvited to a party

big ed wrote:I thought I recognised this , there is a similar piece in the millers guide 2009, page 115, small point John , how is the first name spelt , in two books I have -Nicola ? Nicolas ? and yours so male or female ?

He was male so I think Nicholas is correct

tenpot wrote:interesting tem piccassettes the french use pique-assietes for people who steal ideas tho origionally its people who nick food of other peoples plates or come uninvited to a party

I never knew that but imagine that Bernard did when he came up with the name for these Picasso influenced potters.

do you have a potter's mark for this one SP?

This piece is unmarked like most of the pieces of his work that I've seen and that hasn't been that many. The books do state marks and a bowl by him in the V&A collection has a painted N.54 on it.

I was searching for Vergette and registered with this forum to post some more information. I have been renovating a house that had primarily been rebuilt in the 1950s and discovered hidden away, some of Vergette's painted ceramic tiles and wanted to share them with you.

That's a significant find - is it to be kept?

studio-pots wrote:That's a significant find - is it to be kept?

Absolutely. I am in touch with Marshall Colman and Tilesoc concerning this find.

philpot wrote:Those are lovely.Moreover, they are potentially quite valuable.

They are protected by virtue that my house is listed (although the listing is for older oak timbers) but the listing brings the whole house under the eye of the local historic buildings officer. I have recently had a historic building report carried out as part of a planning application for other works and the Vergette tiles were documented.

Nobody seems to know much about them yet and if they do have a high value, this will have a bearing on my house insurance so it may be worth me getting a formal "valuation" at some point.

Since most of his London tile work has been ripped out in renovations of old coffee houses, these appear to be quite rare. I am presently trying to arrange for Nicholas Vergette' son to visit my house to see his Dad's work.

When I get a moment, I will photograph the panels straight on and upload them in higher resolution so followers can see the detail in the work.

me too! they are wonderful with or without the rarity and provenance

Great shame to remove them. Keep them together on the wall where they were meant to be.

Your job was so much easier as he signed and dated his work

Thanks for posting such an interesting discovery

Local charity shop :)

Is it just a W ?

brin mcardle wrote:Is it just a W ?

There are faint lines extending from the W

His pottery life/career in the UK was very short and I suspect he made very little after emigrating to the States, as from 1960 until his death in 1974, he was Professor of Art at the School of Art and Design of the Southern Illinois University.