Sun and Moon Jugs

 Why would you call a vase a jug with no spout?

Titian Studio Sun Jug - copyright Philip Moll

The first time I saw a Sun Jug it was perched on a dusty pelmet in a friend's lounge. Even with the dust I appreciated its colours and design. A green and brown glazed palm tree frames the bright yellow sun as it makes its descent into the ocean's indigo horizon. One of the five fronds, separated away from the main body, gives the impression of delicate handle. Surprisingly, there is no corresponding spout.

But let's go back. Where did this palm tree sun vase, errr.... jug originate from?

Sherwood Pottery Moon Jug

Back in the Sherwood Pottery era (Approx. 1949 - 1953) Cameron Brown designed and made the mould for the original Moon Jug. As we've seen with other early Sherwood pieces, they weren't all given an identifying mark on the base. The base on this original moon version has the firing ring around the edge.

Sherwood Pottery Moon Jug (base)

The disk-shaped moon is glazed pale yellow, with the sea and the palm tree an inky black. The original has the fifth palm frond handle and a slit opening on top of the moon. But no spout! 

Sherwood Pottery Moon Jug

So why were they sold as jugs rather than vases? This was an ingenious way to get around sales tax on decorative ware such as vases. Jugs and ashtrays were considered utility items so they were taxed at a lower rate. However, with the delicate frond handle, the slit opening at the top, and lack of a spout, anyone can see how useless they would have been as a jug. 

Sherwood Pottery Moon Jug (Judith Watson)

Here's a couple of pictures of a Sherwood Pottery Red Moon Jug. There's no maker's mark on the base.

Sherwood Pottery Red Moon Jug (Judith Watson)

The original Sun Jug I saw up on the pelmet was marked on the base with Titian Studio scraffitoed in script through a green slash. This particularly gorgeous and well-regarded piece was gifted from Cameron to his eldest brother, Jack and sister-in-law Rose. You’ll see a photo of the jug on page 141 in Dick Scott’s book, ‘Fire on the Clay – The Pakeha Comes to West Auckland.’

Titian Studio Sun Jug

Titian Studio Sun Jug

Titian Studio Sun Jug

An old invoice book dated between September 1955 and September 1956 shows an order for a number of ‘Assorted Moon Jugs (incl. Yellow/Black) for 12/6 – no tax’. Each invoice is marked, ‘Cam Brown trading as Titian Pottery Studio, Bethells Road, Waitakere’. Wholesale buyers included G.R. Newgoods, Sargood, Son & Ewen, and Steven Bros. Ltd.  

But that's not the end of the story of the Sun Jugs.

Palm tree and frond handle on the Titian Studio Sun Jug

In 1971 Cameron Snr and Dorothy, along with their son Cam jnr and daughter-in-law Beverley set up Orzel Industries at Grove Rd in Drury. Their other son Chris wasn't involved in Orzel, instead becoming an ceramic mould importer. The Browns set up Eagle Kilns in 1978 and operated the biggest kiln in New Zealand. Chris imported moulds from America with some moulds purchased by Orzel Industries for their decorative Aquila branded items. For example the Polar Bears and the Alsation Dog. From 1983 until 1990 Chris ran Hobby Ceramics.* 

NZ©1982. Eagle Mold - Moon Jug (Beverley Sinclair)

In 1982 Cameron Snr designed a new version of the Moon Vase. At some stage this design was given to Chris for use in Hobby Ceramics. The shape is easy recognisable even with the glaringly obvious differences. For a start, it's quite a bit bigger than the original Sherwood/Titian model which measures 150mm to top of handle and 160mm to the top of the moon. The Eagle version measures, to the top of the moon 255mm and to the top of the handle 280mm. 

NZ©1982. Eagle Mold base stamp (Louise Lusby)

Another obvious difference is that the sun is raised well above the sea. It has three fixed fronds on each side, and the fourth frond in shaped into a sturdier handle. Unlike the earlier model having five fronds. On a side note; Cameron made three Eagle Moon Vases in terracotta when the factory in Drury closed in 2002. He died the same year. Above is Beverley Sinclair’s one, he gave one to collector Billy Apple, and supposedly someone in the family has the third. He had to use more yellow glaze to seal the terracotta. 

Catherine Anselmi versions and the original Titian Studio Sun Jug (Andrew Clifford)

Around 2000, Cameron Brown was more than irritated when he realised Catherine Anselmi had designed a jug based on his original Moon Jug. Her version, measuring 195mm high, has the sun sitting on the ocean with the palm tree having two fronds on each side, with the third frond forming the handle. The other difference which makes Catherine's copies easy to spot is the addition of a SPOUT. The slot opening is also quite wide, so in theory it could be used as a jug. However, regardless of the alterations it is easy to see where the original design came from. Cameron Snr had said, back in the Titian Studio days, he was happy to copy overseas products, often at the request of wholesalers, but would never think to copy from other New Zealand pottery manufacturers. He had every reason to feel stung.

Catherine Anselmi versions and original Titian Sun Jug (Andrew Clifford)

HUGE THANK YOU!

I want to especially thank Beverley Sinclair who went above and beyond, not only supplying photos but also information about her original Sherwood Moon Jug and the terracotta Eagle Moulds version including giving measurements for this blog. Thank you to Judith Watson who kindly supplied gorgeous photos of her red Sherwood Pottery Moon Vase for others to look at. Thanks to Louise Lusby for allowing me to share the base photo of the Eagle Mold. Also, thanks to Andrew Clifford for allowing me to use his great photos showing the differences between the Catherine Anselmi versions against his original Titian Studio Sun Jug. So now you know, who made the spout. 

Secret Squirrel. I've had the Moon Jug story in my files for quite some time. Jumbled information that I've been trying to tidy up and get photos for. Getting all inspired to write this post I sat down and pulled together the information I already had and asked collectors for their help. I hope you've got something out of it, and you'll be able to get a clearer idea of who made what and when. I've loved writing this post, just as I do for all my blog posts. Please feel free to comment and share any of blog posts to your own social media pages or websites. Currently I put up my posts on my personal Facebook page, and the Titian Studio NZ, Sherwood and New Zealand Commercial and Studio Pottery Facebook pages.

Happy days everyone,

Louise

A Little Help - Currently my blog information and pictuares aren't findable on any www search engines. Unless you type in Louise's Titian you won't find any of the material or photos I've uploaded. If someone could help me get my Titian blog into the public arena, I'd be most grateful. Message me on Titianbooks@gmail.com if you can help. Thanks, Louise.

*The moulds Chris imported were available for anyone to purchase from him. So, though you may see for example a Polar Bear in the same mould it doesn't necessary mean if was glazed by the Browns for Aquila.

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