EXTRAVAGANTLY STREAKED, dripped and veined and in bright colours, they could almost be by abstract painter Jackson Pollock – if he had made pots.
Surprisingly, Shelley's Harmony range of drip-glazed wares were introduced years before Pollock's paintings, at the height of the Art Deco period.
The company's lead designer, Eric Slater, discovered the effect by accident in 1932. After mixing to
o much turpentine with the coloured glazes, he found that the glaze dripped into random patterns when he tried to paint bands onto vases. Rather than abandon the attempt, he persevered and accentuated the effects. The range was one of Shelley's most successful during the 1930s, with the effect being used on both traditional and more avant garde forms. It's the latter that are generally the most prized today, particularly the conical vase which has been dubbed the Volcano by collectors due to its shape and the fact that the design almost resembles lava.
As well as the form, also consider the glaze. Although the pattern on each piece is unique, many collectors prefer those that have more evenly dripped patterns around the entire body. Look out for brighter and more dramatic glaze combinations as these are also likely to be more desirable. For examples, blue and orange is more highly prized, as well as being harder to find, than the more common palette of pastel pinks, greens and blues.
Prices at the top end of the market can go as high as £300 to £400 for rare shapes and great glazes – more for a full tea set.
Judith Miller's DK Pocket Collectors Guides to Handbags, Perfume Bottles, Sixties Style and Metal Toys are on sale now, £7.99 each.
The full article contains 282 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
