Art Deco H&K Tunstall Viola Pattern Jug/ Vase

This is an absolutely lovely Art Deco H&K Tunstall Viola Pattern Jug/ Vase, designed by R.Grocott. The shape is quite unusual and the colours are vibrant both inside and outside the jug.

The outside has swirls of brown with lilac, and the violas are yellow and purple. The inside of the top of the vase is a lovely sunshine yellow, which graduates to light yellow towards the bottom of the vase. The handle is a deep blue.

The Viola pattern was one of the, so called, ‘delicious dozen’ patterns by Hollinshead and Kirkham of Tunstall, Staffordshire, UK.

Approximate Dimensions

• Height: 15cm (6″)
• Base Diameter: 7.6cm (3″)
• Maximum width: Handle to lip: 17cm (6.7″)

The jug is in very good condition with no chips, crazing or restoration. It makes a lovely little gift or a nice addition to your own collection.

There looks to be a slight crack on the inside of the jug from when the bottom of the handle was fitted to the jug. This crack does not penetrate to the outside, and the jug is water tight. This defect has been present since the jug was first manufactured and is not visible on the external surface.

The backstamp shows:

• A Unicorn rampant printed mark- used between 1932 and 1942.
• The number 836 and the letter A
• The embossed shape name: Fowey (I think! It is difficult to read)
• Handpainted
• Viola
• Made in England,
• H&K Tunstall
• Signed by R. Grocott

Please click on the following link for more vintage jugs and vases.

Some Trivia For You!

H&K Tunstall was established in 1870 at Burslem in Staffordshire, and from 1876 at the Unicorn Pottery, Tunstall.

Their best known patterns were referred to as ‘Poor Man’s Moorcroft,’ as the colours and patterns are similar to Moorcroft china. However, the prices for H&K Tunstall are rising, as H&K becomes more collectable.

The factory was purchased in 1956 by Johnson Brothers (Hanley).