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TORQUAY POTTERY
During the period 1869 to 1970, some 20 potteries of varied size and longevity created hand crafted pottery in the Torquay area of South Devon. Collectively these firms produced a wide range of souvenir ware, fine art pottery, and architectural and decorative terracotta . Although many collectors are first introduced to their work by the pots decorated with cottages and cute sayings, the range of these potters’ arts included many different styles of decoration. There are many "themes" around which collectors focus their collections. Themes could be subject matter (e.g.cottages, place names, mottos, florals, animals, windmills, boats, grotesques) or decoration style (e.g. faience, barbotine, terracotta). Some collectors seek out pots by specific decorators, others by pattern code or pottery. Clearly the number of permutations and combinations within categories are endless and many of us just collect pots that appeal to us !
"Approaches to Collecting Torquay Pottery" by NATS member Bob Lookabill in the Summer 2008 edition of The Torquay Collector is an excellent reference for ideas in starting a collection. Back issues of the magazine can be ordered from our Products Manager.
Another sources of suggestions for collecting themes can be found at pages 41 et seq. in "Torquay Motto Wares" edited by Virgina Brisco. Ms Brisco's article "Collectors Guide to Buying Mottowares" in Lets Collect Devon Pottery Issue Number One is also helpful. Both these books are available from our Products Manager.
The theme displays at our Annual Conventions convey some idea of the ways in which a collection could be built.
Cottageware Mottoware Terrracota
Pots for Sale