Barbara Cass, York and Arden Potteries

about 5" High

Barbara Cass's mark at York - Admin

Her glazes are rather good aren't they? Here's mine. Resist decorated stoneware plate. Made 1962-68. 4cm (height) 23cm (diameter).

This pot by Barbara Cass was responsible for starting my recent interest in studio pottery - bought for £2 in a charity shop -I loved the glaze. Googled it when I got home and was stunned that other people agreed with me that her work was desirable, although information on her appears very limited


Hence used as my avatar!

Barbara Cass is represented in the V&A collection.
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O19220/bowl-cass-barbara/
Quoting her self written entry in CPA Potters 3rd edition.

Workshop produces unusually colourful stomeware-rich reds,greens,coppers and extensive crystallization produced by the use of different wood ash glazes.A blend of four different clays are used and fired at 1300 C in reduction.All pots are thrown and are mostly individual pieces.By using a number of different techniques achieves contrasts in colourand texture.Studied sculpture in Berlin. 1950 England.Started pottery in York. Since 1968 in Stratford Upon Avon.Two one man shows in London,member of the British Crafts Centre,exhibited widely in this country and abroad Work included in the permamnent collection of the V&A ,numerous other Art galleriesand in Private collections..Was represented at the Craftsman's Art exhibition at the V&A and in May 1974 in 'Potters at Kettles Yard' Cambridge.Works with one assistant..
Her address is given as The Arden Pottery,31 Henley Street,Stratford-Upon Avon,Warwickshire.
Yates-Owen gives her dates as 1921-1992.
1952-61 York.1962-88 Stratford Upon Avon.

Now any potter who can make their living by selling and making their wares in high profile places like York and Stratford,for over 35 years,must have been a very good potter.

7" High , nice glaze and style on this one not too dissimilar to Lucie R's work

another pottery by Barbara Cass, she really know's how to work magic with ceramics... just like machine made or factory made... she's very good at hand throwing :)

Lovely pot this one , I am beginning to wish I had kept pots by Barbara Cass , I have bought quite a few over the years and sold them , I read Barbara Cass was the first pots Bill Ismay Ever Bought , I bought this very cheaply as usual ,along with two other german pots from a german seller .

View from the ISS international space station   

The Top left lidded pot is incised GJ arden

This Arden pot is marked GJ Arden , I bought along with other Cass Pots BuT I haven't came across these initials before ..anybody  

"Potters" says she had 1 assistant, so it could be a pot made and decorated entirely by her assistant?

Thanks Potty , yes that's possible , I never knew she had an assistant wonder who it was .

One sees very little of the work that Barbara Cass did when she was in York. Her pots are decidedly different, especially in their glazing. Some of the first Pots that the Famous collector Bill Ismay Collected were from Barbara Cass. The following three pieces are part of the Bil Ismay collection on show in COCA York in June 2023

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The Bill Ismay collection at COCA York June 2023.