This is a unique and fabulous piece of 1960s or early 1970s Scottish Art Pottery.
It is a large thick round plate or decorative platter. It would look fantastic propped on a heavy-duty plate stand and put on display on a bureau or bookcase.
It is a big thick slab with a good bit of weight to it. It measures 12 1/2 inches in diameter. It is made of a textured stoneware and has the maker's mark: JD (for John Davey) on the back.
It is a stonking weight coming in at 1.7 kg unpacked.
It is just adorable with its beautiful abstract design featuring strange creatures - perhaps little owls? There is a decoration in the centre with three points. This reminds me of the branches of Scottish fir trees. I love the decoration of all the hand-applied glazes which are very painterly. Indeed, this large plate is more of a work of art than a functional item.
The main glaze colour is a French blue, and it looks like the design has been applied with some sort of "resist" technique.
This is a one-off piece of ceramics. You certainly wont find another like it. It is a bit of a showstopper.
The Davey Pottery was based at Castle Douglas,
HISTORY: Leonard John Davey (1913-1991) was born in Nottingham. He worked for a while as a teacher at Castle Douglas High School before setting up his own pottery, called the Old Bridge Pottery, at Bridge of Dee.
He became a full time potter in 1968. The pottery became known as the Davey Pottery from 1976, when he was joined by his daughter Sylvia.
His work was shown at craft exhibitions throughout Scotland. He was a founder member of the Stewartry Arts Society in 1969.