This is a collectable and very quirky studo pottery tripod teapot by Terry Bell Hughes. It has his painted signature on one of the three fett.
It was probably made when he was at the Wren Pottery Studio in Surrey in the 1970s. The work is similar in style to animal works made at this time by the potter, Rosemary Wren. It is amazing that it survived over 50 years without any damages.
After attending art school Terry and his wide moved to Surrey to work at Potter’s Croft in Oxshott. This was the studio of potter Denise Wren and her daughter Rosemary. Terry worked there for 10 years. His experience at Oxshott influenced his subsequent work and his use of animal forms (such as elephants). These pieces (like my teapot) incorporated playful elements. His pots often had looped handles and tripod feet, translucent ash glazed and slips. They also had figurative elements cut from clay as relief additions. This pot is more of a decorative studio piece than a functional pot.
My post has twisted tripod feet and a matching twisted handle applied as a v-shape. On one side is a strange relief elephant form - and on the other there are two elephants facing left. I love the spout - it looks like an elephant's trunk! The pot is made from a grey coloured clay and has pale shiny grey glazes and blue patches around the rim at the based of the handle, the bottom of the spout and on the tip of the spout.
It is in good condition with no chips or cracks and no crazing to the glaze. There is no markers mark - and it has been signed by the artist on the foot - as photographed.
Dimensions: The height of pot from base of feet to top of the lid knop is roughly 5 1/4 inches. The diameter at the widest point is 5 1/2 inches. The length from handle to spout is 8 inches.
It will be sent to you with Royal Mail Tracked Post (Medium Parcel). This will be applied to your order at the checkout.
SHORT BIOGRAPHY: Terry Bell Hughes was born in 1939 in Aberele in North Wales. He trained at Harrow School of Art where he met his wife, Beverley-Bell Hughes. At Harrow, he trained after Victor Margrie and Mick Casson, focusing on functional pottery. After a period working at Oxshott in Surrey, with Denise and Rosemary Wren, they moved to Llandudno Junction in North Wales where they both now live and work.
His work is primarily in thrown, high-fired domestic pots, reflecting influences from both Oriental and British country ware. In 1976 he was one of six potters commissioned by the Welsh Arts Council to make work for the Aberystwyth collection. He is a member of the Craft Potters Association.
Hughes is one of Wales’ most celebrated potters his work is in many prestigious collections, including Amgueddfa Cymru: National Museum Wales, The Royal Museum of Scotland, Ulster Museum and the Crafts Council in London.