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Gaudy Welsh is a rather elusive title for a body of ceramics that spanned near a century of production from the1820's of Hilditch to the 1920's of Charles Allerton. True,Welsh factories made their contribution, namely the Cambrian Pottery, but it is Staffordshire much of it eminated.
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First coined after the 2nd World War by American collectors and antique dealers who basically found by association that individuals and regions of Welsh ancestory and settlement tended to proliferate with this ceramic and found too that it conformed to a very specific pallette of colours, which is integral to what makes-up true Gaudy Welsh. Namely composed on an underglaze cobalt blue, pink lustre (which appears copper in tone when applied overglaze onto the cobalt blue surface) and ruset. These are the basic 3 component colours, and make up the patterns of eg: Wagon Wheel, Buckle and Abernant etc. Gold lustre / gulding etc, should not be considered in the palette scheme and should therefore be described as gaudy-esque ! and not in the remit of true Gaudy Welsh and this is a common mistake and cause of confusion for sellers and buyers.
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The name moreover, entered the mainstream antique world by Professor Howard Williams in his 1978 publication and from here we are indepted not only for the standardisation of the name but for the conception of many of the names ascribed to patterns we now associate as so familiar and established. Other publications have appeared and generated new names to meet the ever expanding collectors market, not only in Wales (or the U.K in general) but world wide too.
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The scope for discussion on the topic is vast ! and these few words hardly touch the factories of provenance. However, on-going research lays testement to the fact, over 150 factories have been firmly established as producers, from,eg: Scotland's Anderson Glasgow Pottery, through into Yorkshire by Turpin & Co and also Twigg. Down into Sunderland, Staffordshire, Bristol and Wales (Cambrian, Llanelli and Ynysmeaudwy). Even crossing the English Channel to Holland, to the manufactory of Petrus Regout of Maastricht, the potter and businessman so inspired by the English ceramicists and potteries. Even employing Stafforshire decorators who carrid their very English decorative tradition onto the continent......................Gaudy Welsh is truely cosmopolitan ! and has a facinating history, if the buyer and seller wishes to explore further ! David Jones.
Guide created: 09/10/06 (updated 14/09/08)
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