Brentleigh Ware ‘Tora’ Design Gourd Shaped Abstract Ceramic Flower Vase c.1950s

This is a charming example of a ceramic flower vase in mid-century style produced by the Howard Pottery Co (Ltd) under their ‘Brentleigh Ware’ trade name.

The vase is of asymmetrical gourd form, with an angular oval rim. It is decorated on the interior and the exterior in matte black. There is a crude four-row matte gold grid applied to the body that alternates between containing squares and rectangles of green, red, or yellow edged in white, or a cross with four dots surrounding the limbs.

There is a white scalloped design below the rim which is echoed in a larger scale above the base. This is edged in a matte gold shade, with each scallop containing a green, red, or yellow brushstroke.

The base is impressed with the words ‘BRENTLEIGH WARE TORA MADE IN ENGLAND’.

At the time of manufacture, these were affordable, mass-produced pieces intended to replicate high-end fashionable art. Although crudely decorated, they capture the spirit of the time. 

It has a maximum height to the rim of approximately 18.0cm and a diameter across the base of about 10.5cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 520g.

It is in good condition, with no chips or cracks, although there are flaws under the paint and fingerprints where it has smudged during production (see pictures). These flaws are common in such mass-produced items.