Iconic 1956 Rugby Boot

 What size was Don Clarke's rugby boot?

1956 Titian Studio Rugby Boot Tankard - Springbok colours

In 1956 Cameron designed a rugby themed tankard with players and a goal post-shaped handle. Dorothy hand decorated them in the various provincial rugby union colours. His intention had been to make tankards for every provincial match for the 1956 Springboks Tour of New Zealand with ‘Kia Ora – New Zealand – South Africa 1956’ impressed around the base. However, only a hundred rugby tankards were made. Why?

1956 Rugby Mug - Auckland v Waikato

 
1956 Rugby Mug - All Blacks v ?? (ex Manos Sourris)

In rugby circles Clarke had been nicknamed ‘The Boot’ due to his reliable goal-kicking skills. This match was his first outing for the Waikato team. Overnight, every rugby-mad enthusiast wanted something to commemorate the historic win. Production stopped on the original rugby tankards as Cameron Brown designed a new mould – ‘The Rugby Boot Tankard’.  

On the 9th of June 1956 in front of an estimated 31,000 spectators at Hamilton Rugby Park, Don Clarke kicked the winning goal for Waikato. An iconic moment in NZ rugby history.

Springboks Rugby Tour of New Zealand, 1956 score card

One side of the tankard’s sock is glazed in the green and gold Springbok colours. The other, in the Waikato team’s red, yellow and black. The ‘leather’ ball is fashioned into the handle sitting atop the black boot with white laces. Cameron’s cursive script on the ball reads, ‘Waikato 14  Springboks 10’ with the date ‘9th June 1956’ written below. On the base is imprinted 'Titian Studio' and a ‘9’ which is believed to be a dedication to Don Clarke for his boot kicking goal.

1956 Titian Studio Rugby Boot - Waikato colours

It was the perfect time to have produced an extraordinarily original piece of pottery. Everyone, from sideline spectators to wireless supporters, farming folk and the rest of New Zealand, wanted their own piece of history. With such high demand other regions missed out on the original tankard colour-ways. The profit from the sale of, ‘The Boot’ allowed the Browns to purchase their own car. 

In a 1956 Studio Titian order book, I found G.R. Newgoods had ordered one hundred of these mugs on the 21st of August 1956. Sargoods also put an order in for a thousand which wasn't fulfilled to anywhere near that quantity.

Rugby Boot Tankard base - 'Titian Studio 9' 

The Story Behind the Number 9

Clarke stood 1.9 m tall, so a size-9 rugby boot would have been considered small for a man of his stature. Since Dorothy bought all the shoes for the family, Cameron may not have realised this when he imprinted the base of the boot. 

Further research uncovered a great photo of Clarke holding up his winning boots. It clearly shows number 11 imprinted into the leather sole. Either way I’m sure many a celebratory beer was drunk from this iconic rugby boot jug tankard with the ball handle.


Word of Warning

Cameron made only one other boot. It was in the Te Atatu colour-ways of red, white and blue for a close family friend who was very ill at the time, so missed the Springbok test.

Cam Jnr says unfortunately, the original rugby boot mould was stolen from the factory. An unscrupulous person used the mould to make copies which don't have Cameron Brown's easily recognisable cursive script, or the Springbok and Waikato colours. These copies are still in circulation and may hold sentimental value for collectors.


Happy days,
Louise

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





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