Topic: Totem Cups & Saucers...Portmeirion Pottery

[notmuchpottery]

Have 5 of these cups and saucers. Totem by Susan William-Ellis. I did manage to find a picture of my cup and saucer here...

http://www.haynes.co.uk/wcsstore/HaynesPublishing/images/PDFs/H4682spread4.pdf

I know it was launched in the early 60's but how can you tell if mine is a 60's design or a later production?

Can anyone confirm these are 'hopefully' 60's?

[antiquerose123]

Hi there:
On the LINK you gave, it says:

Totem was released
in 1963 along with
Cypher. This was one
of Susan Williams-Ellis?s
earliest creations, and her
tableware collection went
on to become a design icon
of the swinging sixties. The
design was produced by
cutting abstract shapes into
the actual cylinder moulds
? stars, spirals and other
forms inspired by ancient
ceramics. Totem was highly
unusual for its time, and was
affordable. Examples can
now be found in museums,
as the Totem design is
a classic of its time.

Some other info on her:
http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/magazine/issue35/iss35p2.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Williams-Ellis
http://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/817a.htm
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/susan-williamsellis-founder-of-portmeirion-potteries-760860.html

[notmuchpottery]

Now all I need is the pot to go with it! 

[Anne]

http://www.studiopottery.com/cgi-bin/pp.cgi?item=3461 originally made in amber, blue and dark green...

Incidentally, 2010 is the 50th anniversary of Portmeirion Pottery and they have produced a range of Originals mugs this year to celebrate the earlier designs by Susan Williams-Ellis, one of which is in the Totem pattern, but they have very sensibly made it look different to the original version. You can see the 2010 Originals here:
http://www.portmeirion.co.uk/template-99.php?page=310&current_section=733

[notmuchpottery]

The pot is gorgeous! No doubt it will take me years to get one! LOL. Or more than likely i will only see the ones in the other colours 

[Anne]

I see that there's a full set on ebay UK atm but it'd be horribly expensive to ship to Oz. 

[notmuchpottery]

Hi anne. Do you have the ebay id for the set? I can't locate it on my search and would love a look. I was thinking I might build my set up over time.

[notmuchpottery]

Oops...just found it! Went right past it. Needs to put my glasses on! I want I want I want! But has to say no unfortunately! The shipping would be huge! I am assuming the pot will be hard to get by itself? Will keep my eye out though! 

[Anne]

I'll keep my eyes open for you as well... you never know, I might just find one on my trawls around here.

[notmuchpottery]

  , many thanks Anne! I can see I will end up with a great little pottery addiction as well he he.