Large Vintage Wemyss Ware Pottery Cats for Jan Plichta of London - A Pair

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A pair of stylish and delightful vintage Wemyss (pronounced Weems) Ware ceramic cats, having attractive emerald green glass eyes, and … Read more A pair of stylish and delightful vintage Wemyss (pronounced Weems) Ware ceramic cats, having attractive emerald green glass eyes, and hand painted underglaze decoration of flowering thistles - the national flower of Scotland, in homage to the origin of the pottery in Fife, back in 1882.

The overall crackle glaze finish of these pieces is a characteristic of earlier Wemyss wares, and it was the result of low temperature glaze firing, which was a technique to enhance the brightly coloured decoration underneath.

Some Wemyss wares were made for Jan Plichta, a wholesaler and retailer of china and glass, active in London from the early 1900 to the mid 1950s. The underglaze 'Plitcha' marks on these ceramic cats suggest they were commissioned by him.

Green underglaze marks: 'Plichta London England' to the base of one.
'Plichta London Made in England' to the other.
Likely manufacture era: Circa 1930 - mid 1950s

*The contemporary Wemyss Ware on the market currently, is a revival of the brand that began in 1985 by Griselda Hill following the void period of the studio after its shutdown in 1957. See less