ceramics - Diana Pottery

The Diana Pottery Pty Ltd operated at Marrickville, New South Wales from 1941 to 1966, and was the most important Australian ceramics manufacturer during this period

Establlished during World War II, the Diana Pottery produced wares to assist the war effort, including cups and mugs for Navy and munitions cantens, along with tea pots and milk jugs.

At the cessation of World War II, the pottery diversified and commercilaised its output to include a large variety of slip cast vases in many colours, shapes and sizes, book ends, animal figures, table ware, utility and kitchen ware. Over the life of the pottery, over 200 different shapes were produced.

By the early 1950s the company had more than 70 employees and were producing a large range of hand painted articles which included "Waltzing Matilda" musical mugs and jugs, and produced bright "gumnut" pots with pale green and brown glazes.

The musical mugs and jugs played when lifted, and the movements were expensive and difficult to obtain, being imported from Switzerland, so many mugs and jusg that should have had movements were sold without at reduced prices.

In the 1960s Diana diversified their range further into decorated oven and kitchen ware, hand painted with maple, poinsettia, cornflower, blackberry, wattle and flannel flower designs.

During this period Diana Pottery made a variety of slip cast vases that were glazed in bright colours, or sprayed with a cream glaze creating a speckled texture. These were marketed under the name 'Hollywood'.

Also in the 1960's, a variety of small slip cast vases hand decorated in gold were made for a gift shop in the Imperial Arcade Sydney which were marketed u under the name 'Imperial'.

There was a burgeoning of Australian pottery in the 1960s and 70s. The most important manufacturer from this period was Diana, Diana produced bright "gumnut" pots with pale green and brown glaze.

Diana Pottery marks include hand signed "Diana Australia"; an impressed "Diana" enclosed in a circle; "Diana Australia" with an imprint of the "Huntress" and stickers reading "Diana Made in Australia". Those marketed under then name "Hollywood" have a stamp and/or a paper label.