Wally Silva history and photos courtesy of Lance Silva

All text and photos courtesy of Lance Silva.

From what I can remember Dad telling me about his time with Joe, and how he came about working for Joe, was he used to walk past Joe's place on his way home from school and always stopped and watched and in the end started doing odd jobs for him, then Dad at the age of eleven had had enough of school and persisted Joe for a apprenticeship, He wasn't allowed on the wheel for about a year, but if Joe ever went out he would sneak on and have a play.

Dad picked it up very quickly and Joe must have recognized that he had a natural talent, as an apprentice he used to get half a crown a week from Joe and most weeks if they had been busy Vera would slip another half crown and say don't tell Joe.

He finished his apprenticeship in late 39 and by that time was on the wheel full time doing most of the contract work which were just fired to a bisque stage and sent off to other companies to be decorated a lot went to Owen Salisbury pottery, I recall Dad telling me Joe wouldn't let him sign his own name on any domestic work he did and they had quite a debate over it, in the end Joe said any thing dad threw would be stamped Rancich & Co, and most of those were hand scribed, Wally had of respect for Joe and said he was a very kind and decent man.

A lot of the contract work went unmarked and in later years they were number stamped, I know all the ones for Salisburys were numbered, and Wally carried on with that contract when he started on his own at 174 Titirangi Rd, which was down a right away and later brought 176 which was the front section where he built our home.

I have seen some of Joe's work in the Auckland Museum and always thought they should have some of Dad's I would be keen to give them some pieces, although good ones are like finding hen's teeth Lol.

I can recall helping Dad build his kiln in the mid 70s it was a great talking point around the neighbourhood (what the hell are the Silva's up to now) when he was firing, it would go all day and night, be nothing to come home from a party at midnight and find the neighbours all sitting around by the kiln haven a chat.

Well that's a little insight into Dads work as a potter, I was only 22 when he passed away I was in England at the time chasing a dream, it was the hardest thing leaving knowing I may not see him again but he insisted I go don't worry I'll be alright he said, and that's that. the first photo is of my Granddad, Dad, his brother George, and his two mates, 3rd photo is PM Peter Fraser 1946 visiting Dad's factory, 4th photo of opening of the kiln in late 70s.

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Photos from Lance of his collection of his Dad's work to come later .....

To Lance: thank you very much for these photos and this moving story.
Te Ev: thank you very much for finding Lance!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You will see some familiar shapes in these photos and I asked Lance about them and he replied "I think where the confusion is what a lot of people don't know is that Dad worked at Crown Lynn for a short time with Dave Jenkin."

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I spent some time checking out what the Auckland Museum had in the way of Rancich and Silva and there are quite a few pieces of Rancich, but no Silva, however the shapes tell me that his work is there.

This clears up a lot of mysteries. Thanks again Lance and Ev.

There are two shapes in this lot that oakpot said were made by Glen Afton just to keep you on your toes, but one of these looks like the one that Wally is throwing in photo 3 in the first post  
I've contacted Alan Coates about Glen Afton.

Three more photos courtesy of Lance Silva.
Thank you so much !!

1. Wally Silva production outside his factory:
2. From the Corban's Rancich-Silva exhibition.
3. Jovan Rancich at work.
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Also Wally's stamp that says W.O. Silva Genuine Hand Made Pottery

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A shape 13 courtesy of Lance:

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