Distributor - G. R. Newgoods Ltd (page 1)

 Which Titian Studio pieces were sold in 1961?

(Auckland Museum - a photo taken off a photocopy)

I was thrilled to come across a 1961 G R Newgoods Distributors brochure when I met the lovely curator from Auckland Museum's ceramic department earlier this year. The brochure proudly states, 'Sole N.Z. Distributors of Titian Pottery.' This post focuses on one column in the catalogue. I promise I'll write about the other columns of products in future posts. Excuse the blurry photo. As the Auckland Museum only has a photocopy, I've taken a photo from that. Maybe the owner of the original brochure will get int touch to let me get a better image.

Wholesalers G.R. Newgoods Ltd were based at 60 Hobson St, opposite the big Farmers Trading company in Auckland's CBD. The company started in 1949 and were the first distributors of Sherwood and Titian products. It was Newgoods who gave the English Beswick catalogue to Cameron asking him to replicate some of the designs for them due to import restrictions. These included the flying ducks. The company stuck with Titian until 1969, even providing funding to expand and move from their small Waitakere location to the Henderson factory in 1957.


Below are examples of the Titian Studio products sold by Newgoods. Note the exempt/sales tax against each of the products. Tax was added depending if the item was classed as utility ware or decorative. 


B.102 Amphora Bowl
Glaze: Grey stone embossed with the wheat decoration. 

This piece comes in a variety of glazes including the aerographed Egyptian glaze. I'll be covering glazes and decorations in separate posts.

B.107-0 / -1 / -2 Tall Bowl
Glaze: Grey Marble

The brochure indicates three sizes as 0, 1 and 2. Interestingly the catalogue picture shows a square foot base which I believe is UNB.300. This vase came in the full range of glazes including the speciality glazes.

V.110 Classic Vase
Glaze: Cobalt with dandelion transfer.

This vase comes in the full range of glazes including speciality glazes. This vase was particularly difficult to photograph. The high gloss, and its bulbous shape caused reflections which distorted the image. Philip spent a lot of time photographing this vase before he was satisfied, he'd captured its beautiful qualities.

B.109 Handled Bowl
Unknown Glaze

This vase comes in a limited number of specialised glazes. I don't have this vase in my collection so I am grateful to the collector who kindly offered me this photograph. *

B.101 Lotus Bowl
Glaze: Pink, Yellow and Green

This vase came in a variety of plain glazes. Philip and I struggled to capture the colours on this vase due to its high gloss. In the original photos the yellow turned dark gravy. 

B.111 Clematis Bowl

This Clematis Bowl comes in a variety of plain glazes with the embossed clematis flowers and leaves. Clematis flowers were used in a few other pieces including a basket weave bowl and a couple of different oval dishes. I'll show you those in another post.

B.105 Shell Bowl
Glaze: This vase comes in a variety of plain and specialised glazes.

Until I saw the brochure, I'd always called it a giant clam shell. In 1969 when Crown Lynn took over Titian, they inherited Titian's moulds including the B.105. It was re-numbered with the four digit code 2089.

The majority of Titian's pieces, produced between 1957 - 1969, have product codes on the base. They are made up of one, two or three capital letters, numerals, dots, and dashes. Sometimes you'll find dots and dashes in different places on the base, even on the same piece.  For the purpose of standardisation, I use the following system for de-coding the codes. Capital letters, followed with a full stop, the numbers, then a dash to separate the size numbers if applicable. By using product codes, shapes and glazes you'll be better prepared when deciphering if the ceramic piece in the op-shop is the real deal or not.


*HELP NEEDED!
If I don't have a Sherwood Pottery or Titian Studio piece to photograph, I'll put out a request on the Titian Studio Facebook page. I try to ask ahead of time so collectors have a chance to respond. If you have a piece, that I'm missing, and would like to offer a photograph for the blog please put up an image on the Facebook page that shows it off to its best advantage. A plain white or black background works best. I will credit you for the photo. You are welcome to private message me your photos if you prefer. On most occassions I will only need a single photo however collectors, like myself, enjoy seeing the different glazes on the same piece. If I've seen a photo of yours online that I'd like to use I will message you asking for permission. Please share my blog online and follow me for a new post each week. There's still a lot to show and tell!

Happy days,
Louise

©Louise de Varga 2022 - Content and pictures in this blog 
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Comments

  1. Ev25 June 2022 at 14:35

    It is so excellent to see the correct names on this catalogue for these Titian Studio vases. I don't like using nicknames as they are usually wrong. I have updated the Titian Gallery on newzealandpottery and I hope that is ok Louise. You are doing an excellent job and thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Titianstudiopottery25 June 2022 at 15:43

    Thank you Ev. Happy to have the names attributed to the pieces. I hope to find more catalogues from other distributors with the correct names. Glad 😊 you're enjoying my posts.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Val Monk26 June 2022 at 22:59

    Louise you are publishing new research on this blog. Thank you. And thanks to Cam and Bev for sharing their knowledge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Titianstudiopottery29 June 2022 at 03:57

      Thank you Val. It's great to have the information written down for others to learn from, and enjoy.

      Delete
  4. Val Monk26 June 2022 at 23:02

    PS when I saw your reference to the B-107 with a square base, I rushed to my shelves. But alas, mine too has a round base. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Titianstudiopottery29 June 2022 at 03:58

      I also picked up my piece to make doubly sure.

      Delete

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