Devonshire Potteries Large Abstract Art Deco Style Jug with Floral Motif c.1950s

This is an unusual and highly decorative example of a large jug produced by the Devonshire Potteries, based in Bovey Tracey in Devon, and dating to the 1950s.

The jug is made from earthenware, with a narrow circular rim with an angular spout. There is a short, waisted neck before it widens out to form the large, ovoid body. The handle is applied jug below the rim and reattaches about halfway down the body.

The piece is glazed on the interior and exterior with a pale, matte grey glaze. The rim is painted with dashes in blue. The upper half of the body is decorated with two rows of stylised tulips in pink and blue, with green foliage. Around the centre, extending out from the handle attachment, is a crude band of grey-blue glaze. Below this are four large cinqufoil-shaped motifs in blue, grey, yellow, and orange. Between each motif are two pairs of crossed parallel lines in orange.

The base is slightly domed and mostly glazed in the same pale grey as the body. It is marked off-centre in blue with the words ‘DEVONSHIRE LTD POTTERIES ENGLAND’. This mark was in use by the Devonshire Potteries from around 1956 onwards.

It has a height of approximately 24.1cm, with a diameter across the rim of about 8.7cm and across the base of about 10.1cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 1300g.

It is in excellent condition, with no cracks, although there is a small flake out of the base (see pictures). This is only visible if the piece is inverted, and so does not detract from it. The glaze and decoration have been applied crudely, and so there are some thinner patches, and also a glaze miss, on the body (see pictures). These are manufacturing flaws and are expected of handmade and hand-decorated pieces.