A MYOTT MYSTERY

 MYOTT HISTORY UP IN FLAMES

I do not profess myself to be an expert on anything really but believe research is the key to unlocking the identity to many pieces. Nothing excites me more than finding out the name of a maker or even the name of a pattern. Myott is one of those makers that has eluded and mislead me on occasion so I needed to undertake some extensive research to that end, and this is what I have discovered. Hopefully it will inspire you to seek out Myott instead of tossing it aside because you've never heard of it.

MYOTT - LYN PATTERN

MYOTT - FINLANDIA PATTERN

So the story goes...

Once upon a time a young man from Switzerland took the trade of a potter in merry old England at the Alexander Pottery, Stoke-On-Trent, upon Wolfe Street (often referred to as the Wolfe St Pottery).

 His name was Ashley Myott. In 1898 His boss sadly passed and nineteen year old Ashley assumed control of the pottery renaming it MYOTT SON & CO LTD, making him the "YOUNGEST INDEPENDENT POTTER OF THE PERIOD".

From 1989 to 1902 Business grew at the Alexander Pottery under his intuative guidence and Myott soon out-grew its Wolfe St Pottery, so the decision was made to move to Brownfield's Works in Cobridge and extend in to Upper Hanley Pottery which was purchased from Grimwades in 1925, establishing the Alexander Potteries.

Soon came the colourful, geometics of the Art Deco, which Myott embraced and by the 1930s had artists such as Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper among others, handpainting pieces. Myott designers & artists were not identified as the pieces were never signed.  Blue and red colours were infrequently used in the colour schemes then, but demand high prices today, if you can find them.

A grand colaboration took place between heavy weights, Myott & Goldscheider, an Austrian company, creating beautiful figurines and masks until 1950.

But alas, the world of Myott FELL TO FIRE in 1949, DESTROYING RECORDS & PATTERN BOOKS, which has impeded many a Myott lover in identifying and dating their pieces. But pottery goes on...and a move to the Crane Street Pottery was instigated but recovery was difficult.

Soon came the might of the largest United States company, Interlace, and owner ship of Myott was relanquished in 1969, yet the "Myott" name still stood as its trading name.

Everyone wanted Myott, and in 1976 the business merged with Alfred Meakin Ltd and was later known as Myott-Meakin Ltd. In 1989, Myott-Meakin added 'Staffordshire' to their backstamp, linking their wares back to its roots; as aquired by Melton Modes.

Finally, we say good-bye to what remained of Myott in 1991 as the company was "swallowed" by the Churchill Group Potteries. Many of the original patterns have been reproduced since. Which is why you will find 'FINLANDIA' pieces with many different backstamps.

Here is a sample of Finlandia backstamps.

1950s +  ???

1982 +

1982 +

1976 +

1991 +

Now as I first said, I am no expert, and if you feel the need to set me straight about some of these details which have been accumulated from sites like: Myotts Collectors Club, The Potteries.org, Collectors Weekly and others, please do. I would love to hear from you.

The Lamp With A Ladys' Head

ART DECO DELIGHT

No longer available .....
My heart skipped a beat when my eyes fell upon this devine creature. A lamp no less but she had surely ensnared me (much to my husbands bemusement).

My plan was to firstly identify her and secondly to sell her ... BUT her identidy has elluded me thus far. The design is reminiscent of Lalique's car mascot "Victoire" [below left] which is a male ... and this is obviously not, and is portrayed with an open mouth ... which she has not. On the other hand she also resembles the "Goddess of Speed" [below right], who is female (tick) and has a closed mouth (tick), yet her hair is often depicted with waving locks and not straightened plumes as my beauty.

LALIQUE'S "VICTOIRE" as seen on 1st Dibs ( https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/decorative-objects/sculptures/victoire-car-mascot/id-f_1906142/ )

"GODDESS OF SPEED" as seen on Finesse Fine Art

http://www.finesse-fine-art.com/Mascots/Mascot049.htm

Markings which would identify her have been lost or so well hidden I have not been able to find them. But she is chalkware/plaster of Paris which was use since early 19th century/1800s to the mid-20th century/1950s which was the heyday of the material though very few original pieces exist without chips and damage. Chalkware can often look old and scruffy if exception care is not taken in its' storage; because it is so fragile, chalkware should not be cleaned as most glazes were water based.(www.collectorsweekly.com is a great source of info)

She is also an electric lamp with her original metal fittings, although the plug has been replaced and the lead shortened at some stage of her life. Electric lamps first started popping up during the Victorian era, 1840s to early 1900s, coexisting with candles and oil lamps alike, though she is clearly of the Art Deco period. But which one???????

1920s-1939, 1950s or 1980s? 


There really have been two periods even though we break them into three. The first period fizzled and waned during WWII as the use of coloured ink, paints and glazes where restricted to the war efforts. Others surmised it was mostly due to people feeling amiss to bring such bright cheerful pieces into their lives when so much destruction and saddness surrounded them. Only after the WWII was there a resurgence for art decos more colourfully decorated pieces to lighten their spirits, and so the first art deco period once again picked up and continued on with a newly revived 50s flavour.

I have spotted the same piece in a highly glossed pink from the 80s and believe it was so, and a replica at that. Many beautiful pieces were replicated from the 1st deco period during the 2nd but were ceramic and of a poorer quality than the originals as appetites for anything deco beame insatiable. So, good-bye 1980s. 
I have also spotted the same piece in a highly glossed black from the 50s and believe it too, was a replica as TV lamps existanced for only approximately 10 years, to sooth peoples' fear of ruining their eyesight by watching TV in the dark. TV lamps were designed to cast an aura of light around the TV ... and she does not ... good-bye 1950s.

During the 1920s & 1930s decor lamps were produced for mood lighting as opposed to lighting the room, often eluminating only the lamp or a smallish area  (tick). Statued, shadeless lamps were also an ellaborate expense for mood-setting (tick), no shades to clutter an area, just clean lines and sleek forms (tick).

So as you can well guess, I believe she is an origianl Art Deco piece from 1925+  and her finest attributes lean heavily towards being the "Goddess Of Speed" .  Great care has been taken to care for her molded form which cast into a very desirable piece of an exception condition; but until I find proof, this beauty will remain a mystery.

Mid-Century Styling

HERE'S TO TOAST

This little beauty has just been added to our Etsy store. Best you check-it-out or you might-miss-out!

Embellish your morning table with a little art deco style from the second art deco period, 1950s.

Mid-century toast rack.
Click icon below to visit my Etsy store to view it now!