Crown Lynn / Ambrico ceramics designed by Mirek Smisek

The Crown Lynn story is part of the New Zealand's heritage. Operating during the period 1948 - 1989, the factory produced domestic ware commonly used in most New Zealand homes in the 1950s.

The story began in the 1860s, at Hobsonville where a farmer, R. O. Clark, encountering drainage problems, made his own clay drainage pipes. Demand was such that he went into business as a manufacturer of bricks and tiles and began a family business which was to have a lasting impact on New Zealand households.

In 1931 Thomas Clark, the great grandson of the original owner joined the more... firm. He realised the opportunities and expanded into domestic ware, opening a porcelain Specials Department in 1937. During World War II  the Specials Department was declared an essential industry and moved into making vitrified mugs and cereal bowls for the American Forces in the Pacific. Until 1947 half the production from the specials department was exported to Australia. The Specials Department became a separate company in 1948, and was called Crown Lynn. Important designers employed by the company included Dave Jenkin, Mirek Smizek, Frank Carpay, Daniel Steenstra, Ernest Shufflebottom, Dorothy Thorpe.

By 1959 Crown Lynn Potteries had produced its 100 millionth article, and at their peak in the 1960's Crown Lynn employed 650 people in their Auckland potteries, manufactured around 17 million pieces of dinnerware annually in over 82 patterns and exported half of their production.

Crown Lynn became Ceramco in 1974 and diversified into a series of new interests, including electronics, appliance wholesaling and making acquisitions including Bendon lingerie. The Crown Lynn pottery factory closed in 1989, unable to compete with foreign competitors. Sir Thomas Clark died in 2005. less...

Mirek Smisek was a New Zealand ceramic artist born in Czechoslovakia on 22 March 1925. He grew up in Prague, where he trained as a ceramicist and worked as an apprentice in a porcelain factory. In 1949, Smisek immigrated to New Zealand, where he settled in Auckland and began working as a commercial artist.

In the 1950s, Smisek commenced making ceramics, creating functional pieces such as plates, bowls, and cups. He was influenced by the modernist movement and the work of artists such as Bernard Leach and Hans Coper. Smisek's style was characterized by clean lines, simple shapes, and more... a focus on form and texture.

In the 1960s, Smisek began to experiment with sculptural forms, creating large, abstract pieces that were inspired by nature and the landscape of New Zealand. He often incorporated found objects into his work, such as stones, shells, and driftwood.

Smisek's work gained recognition in New Zealand and internationally, and he exhibited his ceramics in solo and group shows throughout his career. In 1978, he was awarded the prestigious Order of Merit by the New Zealand government for his contributions to the arts.

In addition to his work as a ceramic artist, Smisek was also a teacher and mentor to many young artists. He taught at Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland and was a founding member of the Auckland Studio Potters Society.

Mirek Smisek died on 10 December 2013, at the age of 88. less...