Jean and Bill Darbyshire established the Darbyshire Pottery in Perth, Western Australia in 1946. From her early years Jean was interested in pottery and took lessons from the well known potter of the 1930s and 1940s Flora Landells. Following World War II the Darbyshires purchased a small kiln and made an assortment of small eggcups and salt and pepper shakers. The business flourished and in 1952 they moved to a purpose built factory in Innaloo. The factory produced two lines of pottery. One was very decorative and included vases and sculptural items such as the popular series of Aboriginal figures. The second line was of functional items produced in bulk such as a wide range salt and pepper shakers in different themes.   When import tariffs were lifted sales of both decorative and functional lines quickly fell away, and the company ceased operations in 1956.

10 items found:

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Two Indigenous figures, c. 1950, manufactured by Darbyshire…

Darbyshire Pottery Indigenous Male Figures, c. 1950, Jack Grace Collection

Two Indigenous figures, c. 1950, manufactured by Darbyshire Pottery, depicting two male seated figures, both with hand-painted finished, signed to base 'Dw', height 7.5 cm. Provenance: The Jack Grace collection

Darbyshire prototype ceramic statue of a standing Aboriginal…

Darbyshire prototype ceramic statue of a standing Aboriginal woman holding a child, with high gloss olive green/brown glaze, rare, 24.5 cm high

Darbyshire ceramic statue of a crouching Aboriginal man holding…

Darbyshire ceramic statue of a crouching Aboriginal man holding a kookaburra, rare, impressed factory mark to base, 16 cm high

Darbyshire ceramic laughing kookaburra statue, stamped…

Darbyshire Ceramic Kookaburra Statue, 18cm High, Australia Stamped

Darbyshire ceramic laughing kookaburra statue, stamped 'Darbyshire, Australia', 18 cm high

Rare Darbyshire ware Australian pottery kangaroo, label to base,…

Darbyshire Ware Kangaroo Pottery with Label, 9.5 cm Height

Rare Darbyshire ware Australian pottery kangaroo, label to base, height 9.5 cm

Darbyshire Pottery possum figure group, stamped Darbyshire…

Darbyshire Australia Possum Figure Group

Darbyshire Pottery possum figure group, stamped Darbyshire Australia, 14 cm high

Two Australian Darbyshire pottery koala groups, as inspected

Australian Darbyshire Pottery Koala Groups Inspection

Two Australian Darbyshire pottery koala groups, as inspected

Darbyshire figure of a kookaburra, with mouse in beak

Kookaburra with Prey

Darbyshire figure of a kookaburra, with mouse in beak

Darbyshire Pottery, Western Australian, a figure of a seated…

Seated Indigenous Elder Figure from Darbyshire Pottery, WA

Darbyshire Pottery, Western Australian, a figure of a seated indigenous elder, circa 1950 with red head and arm bands, unmarked, 16 cm high

Darbyshire Pottery, Western Australia a pair of glazed…

Darbyshire Pottery Indigenous Elder Figurines

Darbyshire Pottery, Western Australia a pair of glazed earthenware seated indigenous elders with red head bands and loincloths, one inscribed Darbyshire, circa 1950, both with gilt DW. 8 cm high