help identify this pottery mark please - this is Toby Stafford's mark !!

Hi, its a lovely item, havent seen the mark before, it has 5 lines forming a star shape, each tipped with a serif, and a single dot between the lines... help appreciated, thanks

Oh dear .... nothing comes to mind with your description mybluedenim .... perhaps you could send a photo of the pot and a photo of the mark to the site on newzealandpottery@gmail.com and I could post it for you and hopefully someone can help .....?

mybluedenim sent this photo of the mark to the site.
It looks like the pot is glazed in a beautiful shino glaze .... one of my all time favourites.
Lets hope that someone can help identify this mark ....

I have just found this old posting of the same mark as my big blue bowl.
It's bothering me now..this mark still a mystery..

This fabulous salt glazed floor vase has the same mark. I didn't get it - perhaps I should have? Probably won't be there next time I go as it is so gorgeous.
This potter has to be well known as they are a master craftsman!

Is this the same mark? http://www.trademe.co.nz/pottery-glass/porcelain-pottery/other-british-manufacturers/other/auction-742214532.htm

Crikey that honey pot has been slip cast and the base with the mark has been hand made.  I've asked if they are from the same pot and I think they have got a bit mixed up.  They must have a pot by that unknown potter though .....

He he, it's on this teapot! http://www.trademe.co.nz/pottery-glass/porcelain-pottery/other/other/auction-742212327.htm

Could this be possible then? It doesn't look like the mark in the Potters book though http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=772595038

Gosh I'm not sure about that at all and that trader isn't very reliable when it comes to identifying marks. He listed one today that I just went ppffffttt at - no way was it made by Ian Smail.

There is a similar early mark for Peter Lange with radiating axes and bobbles on the ends in the book. I have never seen that mark on a pot. On the other hand I have seen this mark reasonably often on very good pots. Is the mark in the book reliable? It would be really good to know who this master actually was.

There are so many mistakes in the Potters Marks book that I now refer to it as a guide only. I will have to get that Lange mark in the book confirmed, but it is not at all like this one, as it has 6 spokes and balls and this one has 5 spokes, 5 dots and each spoke has a 'serif'. It would be great to identify this potter that's for sure.

I found this page for Peter
http://www.peterlange.co.nz/Peter%20Lange%20Website/Home.html
check out the POTS page, nice salt glazed teapot there, and a swan dive too!
So informative

However, I sent the pot and mark to Peter, and asked if it was his, and his reply:
Thanks ... it is like one of my very early marks (never used that mark on salted work anyway) and the pot itself I don't recognise. It's definitely not mine but can't think who made it.
Sorry not much help.
Regards
Peter L

Great show sunny as you can't beat the horse's mouth, compared to speculation. So we can count Peter out as the owner of this mark. Perhaps you should let that trader know?

I have done that, hopefully in a way that won't be taken badly - always a risk.

Mumof1 - Would you be able to ask Peter if he has an image of that early mark on a pot, rather than just the sketch we have to go on currently? It might clear up a few more unidentified marks that are about. Do you think he would be able to help?

I tried, but it seems the one in the book is fairly accurate. Peter replied:

Sorry don't have any graphic of that mark except the one in the book. It was just an impressed stamp of an asterisk, bit like a flower too, with round knobs on each of the 6 arms, rather than the lines on this one. (the serif)
See you
Peter L

A lovely Shino Mug with fish tail like handle..by same mystery potter
Mug has same Serif type mark to base

Thanks Kat. I find it interesting that Peter doesn't know who the mark belongs to, as he is one of the people involved with the NZ Potters Marks site at NZ Potters.

I bought a piece of this potters work new in the late 80s from the Quarry Co-op. So they were here or involved with the NCT(northland Craft Trust) at that time..when Yvonne was here.

That is an excellent lead Kat and one that I hope reveals who this excellent potter is one day.

Could this be the Peter Lange mark perhaps? http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=780428714 I would venture to say it is

Aha! So that's why I put it on my watchlist..... I knew there was a reason and was going back to it to work it out, but you did it for me and I totally agree with you sunny

Well this listing by ham22 says that this mark was made by Toby Stafford and really it all makes sense doesn't it.  Grrrrrr that I didn't get that gorgeous salt glaze huge vase for $20 as I didn't recognise the mark !!  I love those whale tail handle ends

http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=991361843

Toby now gets his own Forum.  Love his work!