S.106 - The Wahine Character Jug (updated)

 Titian Studio's iconic New Zealand souvenir piece.

Original Wahine Jug (S.106)

Cam Brown jnr related this story, as told by his brother Chris. It came to light after Chris saw a promotional segment on television where they were interviewing Cordys owner/auctioneer, Andrew Grigg. A couple of Wahine jugs were included in the upcoming auction of Ngaire Hart’s kiwiana collection.

26^th May 2020 Cordys Catalogue – The Ngaire Hart Estate Collection

Cordys in house video on Facebook - The Ngaire Hart Estate Collection

Every Christmas the Brown family set off on trips around New Zealand. It was in 1958 whilst driving through Opotiki on the east coast that the story unfolds. The navigator on these trips was Dorothy. On one occasion Cam Jnr remembers peeking over his mother’s shoulder to see she was holding the map upside down. After that he’d wondered how they ever found their destinations!

They were driving through the main shopping street when Cameron Snr spotted an old Māori woman. She had a tattooed moko, a pounamu hei tiki hanging from her neck, a pipe jutting out of her mouth and a crimson head scarf. He stopped the car, grabbed his camera as he jumped out, and politely asked if he could take a photo of her. Chris was about 8 years old and Cam Jnr about 15. Cam doesn’t remember the incident, but thinks it was because being a teenager in the back of his parent's car was the last place he wanted to be. However, he does have many fond memories of their family’s Christmas holidays.

UPDATE - At a presentation I did in September 2022 for the West Auckland Historical Society one of the attendees mentioned he remembered the old Maori women from when he was a child living in Opotiki. John recognised her straight away as the women represented in the Wahine jug photograph. He went on to say she used to walk miles from her Marae into town to get her supplies. She was well known in the community and he wouldn't have been surprised if she'd been photographed many times over her lifetime. Being a member of the Opotiki facebook group John is going to see if anyone knows any information about this beautiful Kuia. The closest marae I can fine is Terere, about 1.8 kms away, but can't be sure this is the correct marae for her.  Terere | Maori Maps - Terere marae, also known as Terere Moari, is located just south of Ōpōtiki. The primary hapū is Ngāti Ngāhere of Whakatōhea.

From the photo Cameron Snr took he made the mould and slip cast the jugs at the Henderson factory. There are two main differences and they are the colourings of the head scarf. The earlier version, of which no more than fifty were made, had the crimson burned off during firing, giving the scarf a burgundy tinge. With some adjustments to the glaze recipe later versions have the crimson coloured scarf Cameron wanted. The Wahines are coded S.106 and form part of the souvenir range. 

They are hand sprayed with a dark green coat/shawl, a red/crimson scarf and a brown pipe. The faces and moko are hand painted as was the pipe and hei-tiki, so each piece is slightly different. The jugs have Wahine impressed into the dark green on the reverse. Some pieces have retained the 'Paramount Art Ware - Crafted by British Craftsmen' sticker, on the handle. They were sold through Farmers Trading Company from 1958 up until 1965.

     
         Paramount Art Ware sticker

Below is another example in the honey glaze. Though this is an ‘off the shelf’ glaze and was commonly used by other potteries, it is uncommon to find a Wahine in this glaze. The only other major variation I'm aware of is a piece with 'Matriarch' imprinted on the reverse rather than Wahine.

(Image courtesy of Fee Wanganui)

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Thank you, and happy days.

Louise

Photos taken by Philip Moll Photography

©Louise de Varga 2022 - Content and pictures in this blog