Ernest Shufflebotham
Encyclopedia
Ernest Shufflebotham was born in England. He was a ceramic potter and designer active from the 1930s - 1950s.
, a New Zealand-born ceramic designer, while at Wedgwood
in England. He developed into a master thrower and was a key interpreter of Murray's innovative domesticware. In 1948 Shufflebotham was brought to New Zealand by Crown Lynn
along with a number of other designers including Frank Carpay
to work in the company's 'Specials Department'. He was employed to produce more upmarket works that would expand the market for Crown Lynn ceramics. He was one of the few professional 'throwers' working in New Zealand during the period from his arrival in 1948 to his departure in 1957.
He continued the 'machined' style used by Murray and would 'throw' the clay on a pottery wheel to create the vase. His assistant would then 'turn' it on a lathe to produce the indentations. The matt white finish of his work was made possible by Crown Lynn
's 1948 development of a formula based on Matauri sourced clay, which consistently burned white. These works were essentially a theme and variation on those he had thrown at Wedgewood and instituted the exchange of a distinctive modernist iconography particular to Britain and New Zealand.
His work has continued to influence New Zealand potters - in particular the potter John Parker.
History
He was trained by Keith MurrayKeith Murray (ceramic artist)
Keith Day Pearce Murray was a New Zealand born architect and designer who worked as a ceramics, glass and metalware designer for Wedgwood in the Potteries area of Staffordshire in the 1930s and 1940s. He is considered one of the most influential designers of the Art deco style.Murray was born in...
, a New Zealand-born ceramic designer, while at Wedgwood
Wedgwood
Wedgwood, strictly speaking Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, is a pottery firm owned by KPS Capital Partners, a private equity company based in New York City, USA. Wedgwood was founded on May 1, 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood and in 1987 merged with Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood, an...
in England. He developed into a master thrower and was a key interpreter of Murray's innovative domesticware. In 1948 Shufflebotham was brought to New Zealand by Crown Lynn
Crown Lynn
-Early history:The pottery's origins started with an 1854 land purchase at Hobsonville, near Auckland, by Rice Owen Clark, who had arrived in New Zealand thirteen years before. He had worked as a school teacher in Wellington and as a clerk in Auckland before achieving his ambition to work the land...
along with a number of other designers including Frank Carpay
Frank Carpay
Frank Carpay was a New Zealand designer.He was born in the Netherlands and was trained at the Hertogenbosch Technical School in Holland....
to work in the company's 'Specials Department'. He was employed to produce more upmarket works that would expand the market for Crown Lynn ceramics. He was one of the few professional 'throwers' working in New Zealand during the period from his arrival in 1948 to his departure in 1957.
He continued the 'machined' style used by Murray and would 'throw' the clay on a pottery wheel to create the vase. His assistant would then 'turn' it on a lathe to produce the indentations. The matt white finish of his work was made possible by Crown Lynn
Crown Lynn
-Early history:The pottery's origins started with an 1854 land purchase at Hobsonville, near Auckland, by Rice Owen Clark, who had arrived in New Zealand thirteen years before. He had worked as a school teacher in Wellington and as a clerk in Auckland before achieving his ambition to work the land...
's 1948 development of a formula based on Matauri sourced clay, which consistently burned white. These works were essentially a theme and variation on those he had thrown at Wedgewood and instituted the exchange of a distinctive modernist iconography particular to Britain and New Zealand.
His work has continued to influence New Zealand potters - in particular the potter John Parker.