Rugby Tankard with player 15 handle was not made by Titian

I have a large (6"high) white ceramic tankard that has a handle the shape of a rugby player. I have an image available of it - can anyone help me find out its history? Thanks - Alan

Hi Alan, that sounds rather interesting.
Could you email photos of the tankard and the base to newzealandpottery@gmail.com and I will add them for you, so that we can all see it and try to help. Cheers Ev.

Here are the photos from Alan ....

I knew that I had seen this before and have finally remembered where....
on the faceoff.co.nz site run by carlnsue ..... long gone now though.
As I can't recall the maker, I've searched everything I can think of to find info about this tankard, using all of my special ways .... without any luck
I've asked Manos for help, so hopefully he can find out ......

I will move this thread into the Identification category .... until we have a maker.

Manos says that he is very confident that this was made by the Brown's, perhaps from the Orzel or Aquila days.

Thank you everybody for the info. Can you tell me who Browns are? - Are they a NZ company or are they UK based? Also any idea when they were producing? Where they were located? Thanks Again - Alan

Cameron and Dorothy Brown ran the Titian pottery in Auckland, New Zealand. They manufactured using several different brand names, e.g. Sherwood, Titian Sudios, Orzel and Aquila. The Orzel and Aquila brandnames were used from around 1972 to the 1990's.
They have their own topic on the site and you can find out more about them in there -
http://newzealandpottery.forumotion.net/f26-titian

I am sure when this piece was on Faceoff it was described as attributed to titian. I also have one and would be keen to find out more.

You mentioned somewhere that you went to the Titian Exhibition at the Auckland Museum peters, would you be able to recall if this tankard was there?

It was definitely not part of the exhibition as shown in Auckland

So after everybodies input itI am concluding that the tankard is Titian, manufactured in NZ in the 50s or 60s? Thanks everybody. Regards Alan

If anybody has any further/ other comments please let me know. (Great Forum!)

I have a niggly feeling that I can't shake that it was made by Temuka, but haven't been able to confirm one way or the other. We really need three sources of confirmation .... hopefully this will happen, but it may take time.

FYI there is one listed on Trademe under "Old NZ Rugby Mug"

Thanks, as I would never have seen that listing -
http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/sports-memorabilia/rugby-union/other/auction-550010201.htm
Seeing all of that gold lustre perhaps it is Titian?

The auction above shows the footballer is wearing the number 15 .....
is that significant for any particular player from the 1950's 1960's ?

Ev,

An interesting question. Don Clark was brought in for the 3rd test in 56 at fullback to take over the kicking duties. Now I have the Waikato / Springbocks boot one of which is in the gallery and I'm sure it has number 9 on the sole (I'll have to retrieve it for a look).
This has now swayed me more towards Titian than ever.

Here is a link to the rugby boot that you said had a 9 on the base ....
http://newzealandpottery.forumotion.net/t1424-the-very-rare-titian-rugby-boot-from-the-collection-of-doll-finz?highlight=rugby Did Don Clarke take a size 9 boot?
I asked my sports mad other half if the number 15 rugby jersey meant anything and he said it was worn by the full-back ...... and it would have been Don Clarke in the 1960's.

It annoys the *bleep* out of me when pottery makers didn't mark their work !!!!!

Don Clarke was six feet two and 17 stone so would think he was a tad larger than a size 9. His All Black test career spanned from 56 - 64.




quote="Ev"]Here is a link to the rugby boot that you said had a 9 on the base ....
http://newzealandpottery.forumotion.net/t1424-the-very-rare-titian-rugby-boot-from-the-collection-of-doll-finz?highlight=rugby Did Don Clarke take a size 9 boot?
I asked my sports mad other half if the number 15 rugby jersey meant anything and he said it was worn by the full-back ...... and it would have been Don Clarke in the 1960's.

It annoys the *bleep* out of me when pottery makers didn't mark their work !!!!! [/quote]

I contacted carlnsue through the Collectors Forum on Trademe and asked him who made this tankard ...........

He replied ----- "I have always believed it was made by Titian."

Three definites .... Carlnsue-Manos-peters - you can't argue with that combined New Zealand Pottery knowledge!!!!

By boot says Waikato 14 Spring Boks 10 June 9th 1956 and clearly marked Titian Studio 9 on the base.

[quote="Ev"]The auction above shows the footballer is wearing the number 15 .....
is that significant for any particular player from the 1950's 1960's ?

[quote="carisbrook"] I dont think so - there are 15 players in the team so that may have been the raeson......and in the 1950s number 15 would have been worn by a front row forward.

I dont suppose you have found out anything else? Thanks anyway - Alan

Hi Alan, three very informed NZ pottery people have confirmed that the mug was made by Titian Potteries. I see the one that was listed on TradeMe sold for a paltry $23 !!

Three brilliant minds is good enough for me. Great website - Thanks ev and everyone for your help. Regards Alan

I had an opportunity to ask Cam and Bev Brown today if they made this tankard.
They had never seen it before and said no it is not Titian.
Sorry if we put you crook Alan .....

I had an opportunity to buy one of these at the Queenstown Sallies, but it had a hairline or crack perhaps and I didn't fancy my chances of getting it home safely in a small suitcase on the plane.

I'm pleased to hear I didn't miss out on a Titian/Orzel piece but still keen to know the maker.

I couldn't see any identifying marks, no stickers nothing. I see the height is given as 6 inches. I didn't have the opportunity to measure of photograph but it sure did seem big.

I don't know how many of these have been spotted, so I was just wondering if its presence in Queenstown might add something to identifying it.

If the face is a recognisable rugby player it might help in dating it. I don't know rugby so I can't help.