The Art of Transfers

 Transfer or Decal. What's the difference?

Maori Warrior & Wahine Barrel Mug with Ashtray Lid

So, what is the difference between transfers and decals? Nothing! However, in my musings I refer to the images made in-house at Titian Studio (Henderson), and later at Orzel Industries (Drury) as transfers. And, I refer to imported images as decals which were sold by salesmen, representing English companies. Decals were sold to various commercial potteries including Crown Lynn.

Wahine Maiden (S.100)

Reginald ‘Reg’ Taylor was Crown Lynn’s colour chemist in the 1960s. In the evenings and nearly every weekend, he moonlighted with Cameron Brown teaching him how to make silk screen transfers using an old camera.

Kiwi Mug

It was in Henderson that the first transfers were made. They were of various coloured knives, forks and spoons and were added to the outside of cookware. At this stage nobody has found an ovenware piece with the original knife-fork-spoon transfer. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack with each passing year.

Dancing Wahine with Geyser

How are they made? They began by drawing multiple pictures for the various colourways and sizing. The drawn picture was cut out, allowing only a single colour to be screen printed through to the special transfer paper. It was then left to fully dry. The next cut out screen was placed on top, protecting the previous coloured imaged, and then screen printed with another colour.. On each drawing there would be dots along the edges. This ensured everything lined up perfectly. Once fully finished, the coloured paper sheet was put into water and the transfers floated off ready to apply immediately onto the products ready for firing.

Leaping Marlin (S.102)
Photo courtesy of Anne Lane

The Marlin transfer uses two colours on a white background. The first colour is the blue, the second is the green. You can see the transfers don't quite line up on the left of the tail fin where the green in over the blue. The upright splash has been scratched through the image as part of the design. Owner Anne tells me the transfer is beginning to come off. It's a fantastic transfer.

Warrior and Wahine with Taiaha (S.103)

When I was a kid, we did screen printing at school on white tee shirts. It was good fun and a class full of kids made a lot of mess. Thank goodness for oversized dish washing gloves and plastic aprons. The hardest part was making the image twice. Once for the base colour and the second for the top image and outlines. Some kids were quicker than me and managed to get three different colours onto their shirts. I loved the squeegee bit. You ran the paint along the inside top of the frame and then squeegeed it down towards yourself. I totally love the word, squeegee! Pure delight.

Salt & Pepper shakers

In my previous blog, 'S for Souvenirs' I've chatted about holiday trinkets. These pepper and salt shakers would have been perfect for squeezing into an already bursting suitcase.

Maori Boy in front of Pataka (food store) (PA.100) 
Photo courtesy of Andrew Clifford

As I mentioned some kids were more talented than me. I was more middle of the road and pretty happy with the outcome. One of my friends wasn't as happy with hers though. She hadn't been as diligent in making sure the white shirt was flat on the table. So, when the big moment came to squeegee the paint towards herself it hit a crease. Not that we noticed at the time as there was too much giggling for that. It was when she pulled it out from under the frame, we both saw the white lightening streak the broke up her picture. I tried to console her by saying it least it wasn't smudged like some of the other kids and maybe the streak could have been part of the intended design. She was so disappointed I don't think it made it out of the classroom.

 
Maori Dancing Party (PM.100)
Photo courtesy of Jeremy Ashford

Coffee set made in 1967 at Takanini. Also came in blue colourway.
Photo courtesy of Jeremy Ashford

Commercially purchased decals.

Flowers seem to be the most common image you'll find on decals. But there's also a galleon, Balinese dancers, and an Egyptian image. There were three commonly used decals considered part of the standard decorations used at Titian Studio. As the vases were only fired once, the decal was attached, gold detailing was sometimes added around the base, rim and handles, before being clear glazed and fired. The three decals below were only applied to their specifically coloured vases. 

UPDATE: After discussion with Cam Brown Jnr he feels the Briar Rose, Dandelion and Grape Vine may have been made at Titian Studio.

Briar Rose decal on a pink slip stained 'Classic Vase' (V.110)
Dandelion Decal on cobalt 'Classic Vase' (V.110)
Gold Grape Vine decal on black 'Classic Vase' (V.110)

Orzel Industries, run by Cameron Snr, wife Dorothy, Cam Jnr and Beverley began producing transfers again at Drury including the Early Settlers kitchenware range. DB and Lion Breweries decided they'd like chunky tankards embellished with their beer brands. The labels were given a rough look giving the mugs an aged look. Transfers were first designed and produced at Titian Studio's Henderson factory in the early 1960s and I believe they are pieces of mid-century art.  

Orzel DB Export tankard, Early Settlers Collection Ginger pot and Oil jug

I've only showed you a few of the transfers made at Titian Studio and Orzel Industries. I know there's many more to keep our eyes open for. 

Happy days,
Louise

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

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