Magical ceramics

The potters' art is very affordable - and the scope for the collector is astonishing. You can buy 2,000 year-old Roman and Chinese pots, hold them and imagine the world as it was then.

To delve into the story of pottery a little nearer to our own time, I asked three experts to reveal the myriad forms and colours of British Art Pottery from 1750 to 1950.

John Howard specialises in early Staffordshire Pottery.

What is it that you love about Staffordshire Pottery and what is sought-after by connoisseurs?

"Staffordshire pottery from the late 18th/19th century has often been termed as the last tribal art of England. In a sense this is very true, as they were made by unskilled hands and reflect the expression and creative spirit of the person who modelled and painted them.

"They are a unique English folk art form, the like of which we will never see again. For me the quirky, almost comical, naivety of the figures is the main appeal. The figures often have their own story and represent a snapshot of social commentary which can often be as fascinating as the object itself. Unlike porcelain, they have a warmth and presence which is timeless."

If a customer was buying their first piece, what advice would you give them?

"I always recommend new collectors to acquire figures which they appreciate from the heart rather than the head. It is always a good thing in the long term to buy the best examples they can afford. Look for good modelling and colour decoration but, above all, buy something which gives joy when looked at. This is the appeal of Staffordshire and one is not looking for quality in the normal sense. It is the sentiment and delight with each piece that is the key, together with its decorative appeal and rarity."

If that first piece sparks a lifetime's interest, what books, websites and clubs would you recommend?

"The best website is my own! (www.antiquepottery.co.uk). The Staffordshire Figure Association is the best group to join up with.They have a great website and there are lots of links to collectors and dealers from the Staffordshire world (www.staffordshire.org).

"There is a set of four books by Harding and Harding which include photographs of more than 5,000 figures. Entitled Victorian Staffordshire Figures it is published by Schiffer and is the most definitive work on the subject."

Lis and Les Hall Bakker's stock is late 19th and early 20th century Arts and Crafts. Admirers of the Arts and Crafts movement will love the Hall Bakkers' William de Morgan pieces.

What drew you to this period and who are the best ceramic artists and designers?

"Back in 1978 we became interested in antiques generally, and had a chance find of a William de Morgan vase. The subsequent research introduced us to the vast range of ceramics, glass and metalware which now falls under the general heading of Decorative Arts 1880-1940.

"Our vase sold at Sotheby's then for the princely sum of £240, which bought us a small car. William De Morgan (1869-1907), and his wife Evelyn de Morgan, a significant Pre-Raphaelite painter, were close friends of William Morris and the circle of artists and designers associated with the development of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The ideas and ideals associated with this movement influenced a very wide number of individual potters and potteries which is now collectively described as art pottery'.

"De Morgan is generally regarded as the king of the period but, other highly-collectable ceramics include the Martin Brothers, Doulton of Lambeth who employed many trained artists, such as George Tinworth, Frank Butler, Hannah Barlow, Mark Marshall and Eliza Simmance. In Birmingham, William Howson Taylor established the Ruskin pottery, developing exceptional glazes based on oriental ceramics with which he won numerous international prizes.

"William Moorcroft set up in Cobridge, in 1913 and his designs have continued virtually until today. In Manchester, the Pilkington pottery employed trained artists to decorate pots in exceptional lustres, but also sold lesser wares with unusual glaze effects. From the West Country came the eccentric designs of Sir Edmund Elton, along with Brannam, Baron, Lauder and potteries in Exeter and at Poole in Dorset. In the midlands and the north, other names such as, Ault, Bretby, Burmantoft, Linthorpe and Maw are worth searching for."

If that first piece sparks a lifetime's interest, what books, websites and clubs would you recommend?

"During the last two decades Art Pottery has become recognised for its quality and significance in the history of decorative art and design and has proved a good investment. Art Pottery was expensive at the time-selling worldwide at stores such as Liberty and Tiffany's. Most books are detailed studies of individual factories or potters, and a search in your local library should provide information and titles. The best general source are price guides, but they omit any information on the history.

"Try to get a copy of English Decorative Ceramics by John Bartlett, published by Kevin Francis; Encyclopaedia of British Art Pottery by Victoria Bergesen, published by Barrie & Jenkins. On the Internet visit the websites www.studiopottery.com and www.tileimagegallery.

"All the firms conceived their pots as art', so go for shape, design and colour. Smaller items can be bought for as little as £50.

Kaye Pritchard of Deco Plus is passionionate about 20th century Art Deco. The names associated with British Deco are Clarice Cliff, Charlotte Rhead and Susie Cooper, known collectively as The Pottery Ladies'.

Do you have a favourite and which less well-known makers would you recommend ?

"Carlton Ware is my first love. I have a large collection and particularly like Handcraft' pieces of the 1930s. No two are exactly the same and are more affordable than Clarice Cliff. Also coming up is the work of Thomas Forester and Sons of the Phoenix pottery works in Staffordshire, which ceased production in 1959. I used to live in the same village (Swynnerton) as Thomas's grandson, Ian, and we became friends. Many of the pieces go unrecognised, despite being quite spectacular. I have a beautiful tube-lined vase with the designer's name in relief. This piece is comparable to the very best of Moorcroft but is not in the same price bracket. But this is set to change."

If a customer was buying their first piece, what advice would you give them?

"Choose something you like at a price you can comfortably afford. Put it on display, enjoy it and remember a thing of beauty is a joy forever."

Lis and Les Hall Bakker and John Howard can be found at Heritage, 6 Market Place, Woodstock and will be exhibiting at the Radley Fair. 01993 811332. Kaye Pritchard can be contacted on 01865-301994