c.1929–1964 Susie Cooper left A. E. Gray & Co. Ltd where she had been a decorator and designer in October 1929 to establish an independent pottery business, first at Tunstall and then at the Chelsea Works, Burslem. In 1931, at Harry Wood’s invitation, Susie Cooper moved her design and decorating studio to the Wood & Sons Ltd Crown Works in Newcastle St, Burslem, where she was operating as the ‘Susie Cooper Pottery’. The association with Wood & Sons continued and in 1959 she purchased the Crown Works as the base for her expanding business. From c.1950 Susie Cooper’s new focus was on bone china and the last earthenware pattern (2429) was registered in July 1964. Production of earthenware ceased shortly afterward. The Crown Works remained the base for Susie Cooper’s design studio until the Works were closed by Wedgwood in 1980.
The Susie Cooper earthenware produced between the early 1930s and 1964 includes wall masks, figures, art pottery and decorator items, but best known are the collectable tableware decorated using freehand painting, banding, sgraffito, lithography, and aerography.
Tableware shapes include the famous Kestrel (introduced in 1932 and still in production in 1964) Curlew (1932), Rex, Falcon (1937), and others. Patterns of the early 1930s echo those developed at Grays – bold floral motifs, banding and geometric designs. By the mid-1930s the decoration had changed from the vivid geometric to more subtle floral and banded decoration. The multi-colour lithographic patterns ‘Patricia Rose’ and ‘Dresden Spray’ are the best known floral patterns and these were produced, with many variations from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Patricia, as it was originally know, was first introduced in 1938 and shows a delicate pink rose surrounded by flowing leaves and buds. The pattern has become a great favourite with Japanese collectors. The rose itself is applied by transfer while the borders colours are normally wash banded. The pink wash border finish is possibly the most frequently seen version, with the green wash border variations a close second.
The item is a Susie Cooper Patricia Rose dessert set consisting of the lidded serving bowl and 6 dessert bowls.
The serving dish is stamped Susie Cooper Production Crown Works Burslem England and numbered. The dessert bowls are all stamped A Susie Cooper Production Crown Works Burslem England.
Age related crazing exist on all the items, however no other damages noted and in very good vintage condition.
Serving bowl height with lid: 13 cm, Height of rim: 7.2 cm, Diameter of base: 14.2 cm, Diameter of rim: 21 cm, Handle to handle: 26.5 cm
Dessert bowl height: 3.5 cm, Diameter of base: 7.5 cm, Diameter of rim: 16.2 cm
