James Robson "Roy" Cowan was a prominent New Zealand artist, born in Wellington in 1918. He was a potter, printmaker, and illustrator, and the son of writer James Cowan. Cowan attended Wellington College and Teachers Training College, where he was influenced by artist Roland Hipkins. He married potter Juliet Peter in 1952.

Cowan's artistic career began with his first exhibition at the French Maid Coffee House in 1947. He also exhibited at the Wellington-based Helen Hitchings Gallery, New Zealand's first modern dealer gallery. In 1953, Cowan and his wife travelled to London where he studied at the Slade School of Fine Art on a scholarship from the Association of New Zealand Art Societies.

He worked for the Education Department in the School Publications branch until 1959 when he became a full-time potter. He built and experimented with oil-fired kilns, contributing to wider knowledge of more...

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A large Roy Cowan floor pot, a bulbous body, with hand-painted…

Roy Cowan Hand-Painted Floor Pot with Floral Wildlife Decoration

A large Roy Cowan floor pot, a bulbous body, with hand-painted floral and wildlife decoration over a grey glaze. Maker's initials to base. Height 42.5 cm, diameter 30 cm

A Roy Cowan amphora floor vase, 1983. Made from stoneware, with…

Roy Cowan 1983 Stoneware Amphora Floor Vase, Geometric Motifs Beige

A Roy Cowan amphora floor vase, 1983. Made from stoneware, with a bulbous, beige glazed body. The piece is decorated with various geometric motifs, including concentric lines, contrasted with incised vertical rectangles, and circles. Height 90 cm, width…

Roy Cowan, Untitled, large stoneware salt glaze vase with…

Cobalt Radiance: Large Stoneware Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, Untitled, large stoneware salt glaze vase with incised radiating concentric circle patters, rich cobalt blue glaze, 95 x 40 x 40 cm

Roy Cowan large and impressive sculptural slab built vase,…

Pierced Slab Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan large and impressive sculptural slab built vase, burgundy/brown and speckled ash glaze, pierced with two apertures, 105 x 70 cm

A Paul Melser jug and a small Roy Cowan jug, both with tenmoku…

Tenmoku Glazed Jug Set by Melser and Cowan

A Paul Melser jug and a small Roy Cowan jug, both with tenmoku glaze. Impressed mark, 17 cm, 9 cm height

Roy Cowan elongated platter, hand painted with abstract pattern…

Abstract Elongated Platter by James Robson Cowan

Roy Cowan elongated platter, hand painted with abstract pattern in black and green on a tin glazed ground. tenmoku glaze to the exterior. Artists incised initials to base; J. R. C (James Robson Cowan), 47 cm length

A quality large Roy Cowan, cNZM MBE (1918-2006) salt glazed…

Radiating Circular Roy Cowan Salt Glazed Floor Pot

A quality large Roy Cowan, cNZM MBE (1918-2006) salt glazed floor pot, striking incised radiating circular and lineal decoration in dark cobalt blue/black and pale blue tones, the three dominant radiating circular motifs in an encircling band, tall ovoid…

A Roy Cowan geometric teapot, 1985 and artist's initials to…

Geometric Teapot by Roy Cowan (1985)

A Roy Cowan geometric teapot, 1985 and artist's initials to base, height 15.5 cm, width 22 cm, diameter 14 cm

Craft New Zealand (book) by Brian brake and Doreen Blumhardt…

Craft New Zealand: Signed by Prominent Artists

Craft New Zealand (book) by Brian brake and Doreen Blumhardt Doreen Blumhardt's personal copy, signed by Guy Ngan, John Drawbridge, Raymond Boyce, Ida Lough, Ian Spalding, Jean Ngan, Kathleen Des Forges, Elizabeth Auton, pit Henrich, Derek ball, Don salt,…

Roy Cowan coffee pot, incised mark to base, 21 cm height

Incised Marked Coffee Pot by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan coffee pot, incised mark to base, 21 cm height

Roy Cowan lamp base, unmarked, 21 cm height

Unmarked Roy Cowan Lamp Base (21 cm)

Roy Cowan lamp base, unmarked, 21 cm height

Roy Cowan elongated serving platter, hand painted with stylised…

Hand-painted fish serving platter by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan elongated serving platter, hand painted with stylised fish, incised mark to base, 44.5 cm length

Roy Cowan floor vase, salt glaze decorated with blue fern…

Blue Fern Salt Glaze Floor Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan floor vase, salt glaze decorated with blue fern motifs, impressed mark to base with reminants of original paper label, 35 cm height

Roy Cowan vase, of compressed spherical form, upper half…

Ngaio Garden Scene Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan vase, of compressed spherical form, upper half painted with continuous band of Ngaio garden scene, incised with Jrc mark to base, 25 cm height

Roy Cowan, floor vase, hand painted with sunflower motifs,…

Hand-painted Sunflower Vase by Roy Cowan (1982)

Roy Cowan, floor vase, hand painted with sunflower motifs, impressed mark & paper label dated 1982, 37 cm height

Roy Cowan, floor standing vase of elongated form, incised with…

Blue Geometric Floor Vase, 1982

Roy Cowan, floor standing vase of elongated form, incised with repeating geometric decoration, rich blue salt glaze paper label to base dated 1982, 70 cm height

Roy Cowan, floor standing vase of elongated form, incised with…

Elongated Leaf Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, floor standing vase of elongated form, incised with long leaf repeating decoration, rich blue & green salt glaze c.1970, 85 cm height. Provenance, collection of Roy Cowan, & Juliet Peter, Ngaio, Wellington, the Roy & Juliet Cowan, collection of…

Roy Cowan, floor standing vase of ovoid form, hand painted…

Wellington Panoramic Landscape Floor Vase

Roy Cowan, floor standing vase of ovoid form, hand painted stoneware decorated with Wellington panoramic landscape of rocks, batches & seascape, c1980s, 88 cm height. Provenance, collection of Roy Cowan, & Juliet Peter, Ngaio, Wellington, the Roy & Juliet…

A Juliet Peter flower horse, included in a 1960 group show with…

Flower Horse Sculpture by Juliet Peter

A Juliet Peter flower horse, included in a 1960 group show with Roy Cowan. Flattened, sculpted body cavity flanked by an elongated neck and shortened, curled tail. Raised on four tapering feet, height 27 cm, width 17 cm, length 22 cm

A Roy Cowan teapot and jug, both of matching faceted form, the…

Matching Roy Cowan Teapot and Jug Set

A Roy Cowan teapot and jug, both of matching faceted form, the jug in blue and the pot in white. Minor chip to teapot. Largest height 15 cm, width 16 cm, depth 22 cm

Roy Cowan bowl, incised with initials, 37 cm diameter

Incised Roy Cowan Bowl, 37 cm Diameter

Roy Cowan bowl, incised with initials, 37 cm diameter

A Roy Cowan and Jean Hasted pottery vase, mottled brown glaze…

Mottled Brown Pottery Vase with Incised Decoration

A Roy Cowan and Jean Hasted pottery vase, mottled brown glaze with incised decoration to two sides, sgraffito signatures and Borland '82 to base, height 22 cm.

A large Roy Cowan sculptural garden pot, the swollen stoneware…

Swollen Stoneware Sculptural Garden Pot by Roy Cowan

A large Roy Cowan sculptural garden pot, the swollen stoneware body with a mouth moulded with a volute scroll to one side and a sickle shaped 'prow' opposite. 98 x 29 x 92.5 cm

A large and impressive Roy Cowan sculpture, of open castellated…

Castellated Cowan: Splattered Glaze Sculpture

A large and impressive Roy Cowan sculpture, of open castellated form with four well defined flanges, covered with splattered light green and brown glaze effects. Old repair, height 80 cm.

A large and impressive Roy Cowan sculptural garden pot, the…

Swollen Stoneware Sculptural Garden Pot by Roy Cowan

A large and impressive Roy Cowan sculptural garden pot, the swollen stoneware body with a mouth and shoulder modelled with scrolls reminiscent of a Doric capital. 73 x 27 x 86 cm. Illustrated front cover New Zealand Potter Magazine volume 13 number 2,…

Roy Cowan large 'Owl' stoneware sculpture, tall tapered flat…

Large Stoneware Owl Sculpture

Roy Cowan large 'Owl' stoneware sculpture, tall tapered flat slab form, the two circular piercings towards the top with radiating concave framing and incising below of owl's eyes form, sculpted ribbed neck, aqua-green and dark speckled brown glaze…

Roy Cowan large baluster floor vase, converted to lamp base, 74…

Converted Roy Cowan floor vase lamp, 74cm height

Roy Cowan large baluster floor vase, converted to lamp base, 74 cm height

Roy Cowan, posy vase, paper label 11 cm height

Labelled Posy Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, posy vase, paper label 11 cm height

Juliet Peter, free form bowl, impressed mark, 15 cm length…

Pottery Pair: Bowl and Teapot by Peter and Cowan

Juliet Peter, free form bowl, impressed mark, 15 cm length together with Roy Cowan teapot, incised mark, 17 cm height

Roy Cowan / Grant Tilley, charger handpainted by Grant Tilley,…

Handpainted Charger by Grant Tilley

Roy Cowan / Grant Tilley, charger handpainted by Grant Tilley, incised mark, 42 cm diameter

Roy Cowan, charger, incised mark, 38 cm diameter

Cowan Incised Charger - 38cm Diameter

Roy Cowan, charger, incised mark, 38 cm diameter

Roy Cowan, hand painted ovoid floor vase, incised mark, 36.5 cm…

Hand-painted Ovoid Floor Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, hand painted ovoid floor vase, incised mark, 36.5 cm high

Roy Cowan, large pale blue salt glaze ovoid vase, decorated…

Geometric and Naturalistic Salt Glaze Vase

Roy Cowan, large pale blue salt glaze ovoid vase, decorated with geometric and naturalistic motifs, incised initials, height 32 cm

Roy Cowan, large and impressive blue salt glaze stoneware floor…

Blue Salt Glaze Stoneware Floor Vase with Koru Motifs

Roy Cowan, large and impressive blue salt glaze stoneware floor vase, incised with concentric bands and interweaving stylised koru forms, height 82 cm

Roy Cowan, large floor vase with inscribed geometric designs in…

Blue Salt Glaze Geometric Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, large floor vase with inscribed geometric designs in blue salt glaze, paper label to base, 58 cm height

Roy Cowan, large wall plate with landscape, 1986. Diameter 43 cm

Landscape Wall Plate

Roy Cowan, large wall plate with landscape, 1986. Diameter 43 cm

No image available

Hand-painted Owl Charger by Wendy Masters

Roy Cowan, charger, hand painted with owls by Wendy Masters, impressed marks JC80, 40.5 cm diameter.

Roy Cowan, elongated platter, incised mark, 47 cm length

Elongated Incised Platter, 47cm

Roy Cowan, elongated platter, incised mark, 47 cm length

Roy Cowan, elongated platter, incised mark, 56.5 cm length

Elongated Incised Platter by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, elongated platter, incised mark, 56.5 cm length

Roy Cowan, charger, incised initials & paper label to base, 35…

Cowan Charger with Initials and Label

Roy Cowan, charger, incised initials & paper label to base, 35 cm dia

Roy Cowan, charger, incised initials & dated ?Û÷80, 36 cm dia…

Incised Charger with Dated Initials, 1980

Roy Cowan, charger, incised initials & dated ?Û÷80, 36 cm dia (repair to rim)

A large Roy Cowan stoneware pottery charger, decorated with…

Large Blue Floral Charger with Sea and Cliff Scene

A large Roy Cowan stoneware pottery charger, decorated with dark underglaze blue floral border with sea and Cliff scene. Diameter 46.5 cm

A large Roy Cowan stoneware pottery charger, decorated with…

Blue Fish Scale Charger with Medusa Head Decoration

A large Roy Cowan stoneware pottery charger, decorated with dark blue fish scale border and female head with Medusa style hair (koru). Diameter 44 cm.

Roy Cowan, Tall stoneware jug, incised initials, height 25 cm

Tall Incised Stoneware Jug by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, Tall stoneware jug, incised initials, height 25 cm

Roy Cowan strap handled jug

Strap-handled Roy Cowan jug

Roy Cowan strap handled jug

Roy Cowan charger, incised initials with paper label, 43 cm dia…

Inscribed Cowan Charger with Label

Roy Cowan charger, incised initials with paper label, 43 cm dia (glaze faults)

A good Roy Cowan salt glazed floor vase, two encircling bands…

Roy Cowan Salt Glazed Floor Vase with Panelled Design

A good Roy Cowan salt glazed floor vase, two encircling bands of stylised panelled design, strong blue green salt glaze effects, incised initials to the base. Height 41 cm

A Roy Cowan salt glazed stoneware vase, ovoid form, encircling…

Roy Cowan Salt Glazed Stoneware Vase

A Roy Cowan salt glazed stoneware vase, ovoid form, encircling wavy bands to the shoulder in cobalt blue on pale blue ground, rich caramel glaze to the rim. Provenance: The collection of Roy and Juliet Cowan, sold Dunbar Sloane September 2000, lot 857A.…

A quality large Roy Cowan (CNZM MBE 1918-2006) salt glazed…

Radiating Circular Salt Glazed Floor Pot by Roy Cowan

A quality large Roy Cowan (CNZM MBE 1918-2006) salt glazed floor pot, striking incised radiating circular and lineal decoration in dark cobalt blue/ black and pale blue tones, the four dominant radiating circular motifs in an encircling band, tall ovoid…

A good Muriel Moody (1907-1991) salt glazed sculpture of a shag,…

Muriel Moody Salt Glazed Shag Sculpture

A good Muriel Moody (1907-1991) salt glazed sculpture of a shag, modelled with head raised, variable dark blue to its back, caramel to its front, the beak cracked and repaired, raised on mahogany square plinth base, the tail of the bird overhanging.…

Roy Cowan Teapot oatmeal glaze with side grip incised initials…

Oatmeal Glaze Teapot with Side Grip and Initials

Roy Cowan Teapot oatmeal glaze with side grip incised initials 18 cm height

Roy Cowan, oblong platter decorated with fish, 48 cm length

Fish Decorated Oblong Platter by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, oblong platter decorated with fish, 48 cm length

Roy Cowan, floor vase, 52 cm height

52cm Floor Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, floor vase, 52 cm height

A Roy Cowan and Juliet Peter large stoneware floor vase,…

Abstract Stoneware Floor Vase by Cowan and Peter

A Roy Cowan and Juliet Peter large stoneware floor vase, painted in blue and green with abstract gestural decoration to the ovoid body. Height 66 cm. Provenance: Lorraine and Patrick Williams collection, Wellington.

Roy Cowan, charger, incised initials & paper label, 45 cm dia

Incised Charger with Cowan's Initials and Label

Roy Cowan, charger, incised initials & paper label, 45 cm dia

Roy Cowan, charger, incised initials, 39 cm dia

Incised Charger by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, charger, incised initials, 39 cm dia

Roy Cowan, charger, incised initials, 46 cm dia

Incised Charger by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, charger, incised initials, 46 cm dia

Roy Cowan, charger, paper label, 41 cm dia

Labelled Charger, 41 cm Diameter

Roy Cowan, charger, paper label, 41 cm dia

Roy Cowan, large and impressive garden sculpture, modelled in…

Pharaoh Head Garden Sculpture by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, large and impressive garden sculpture, modelled in the form of an Egyptian Pharaoh's head, various firing cracks evident across the surface. Height 90 cm. Width 62 cm

Roy Cowan, large stoneware garden sculpture, of slab…

Iron-Glazed Stoneware Garden Sculpture

Roy Cowan, large stoneware garden sculpture, of slab construction, modelled with scrolling apertures, iron glazed. Height 77 cm

Roy Cowan, Little Forest, salt glazed stoneware. Height 70 cm.…

"Little Forest" Stoneware Sculpture

Roy Cowan, Little Forest, salt glazed stoneware. Height 70 cm. Width 50 cm

Roy Cowan, Little Managed Forest, salt glazed stoneware. Height…

"Little Managed Forest" Stoneware Sculpture

Roy Cowan, Little Managed Forest, salt glazed stoneware. Height 83 cm. Width 45 cm

Roy Cowan, floor standing vase, drilled for lamp, paper label &…

Drilled Floor Vase with Lamp Capability

Roy Cowan, floor standing vase, drilled for lamp, paper label & initials to base, 72 cm height

Roy Cowan, charger, painted by Wendy Masters, impressed marks…

Charger by Wendy Masters with Impressed SC80 Mark

Roy Cowan, charger, painted by Wendy Masters, impressed marks SC80, 40.5 cm diameter

Roy Cowan, large ovoid vase decorated with geometric and sun…

Blue and Brown Geometric Vase

Roy Cowan, large ovoid vase decorated with geometric and sun motifs in blue and brown slat glaze incised initials. Height 35 cm

Roy Cowan, a large and impressive stoneware blue salt glazed…

Stoneware Koru Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, a large and impressive stoneware blue salt glazed floor vase, incised with concentric bands and interweaving stylised koru forms. Height 82 cm. This impressive floor vase was held for many years in Roy Cowan and Juliet Peter's personal…

Roy Cowan and Juliet Peter, a large stoneware floor vase,…

Abstract Stoneware Vase by Cowan and Peter

Roy Cowan and Juliet Peter, a large stoneware floor vase, painted in blue and green with abstract gestural decoration. Height 66 cm. Provenance: Lorraine and Patrick Williams collection, Wellington

Roy Cowan, a large stoneware slab form garden pot, the body…

Large Stoneware Garden Pot by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, a large stoneware slab form garden pot, the body pierced and incised. Height 92 cm x 62 cm. Provenance: Lorraine and Patrick Williams collection, Wellington

Roy Cowan, blue glazed stoneware dish. Diameter 22 cm

Blue Stoneware Dish by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, blue glazed stoneware dish. Diameter 22 cm

Roy Cowan, stoneware platter, painted with a sea creature,…

Sea Creature Stoneware Platter by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, stoneware platter, painted with a sea creature, 1960s, incised initials to the base. Length 45 cm

Roy Cowan, large ovoid vase, decorated with geometric and sun…

Blue and Brown Salt Glaze Ovoid Vase with Geometric Motifs

Roy Cowan, large ovoid vase, decorated with geometric and sun motifs in blue and brown salt glaze on a pale blue ground, incised initials. Height 35 cm

Roy Cowan, large ovoid vase, with blue and green salt glaze…

Blue and Green Salt Glaze Ovoid Vase with Lid

Roy Cowan, large ovoid vase, with blue and green salt glaze with incised geometric decoration. Complete with original cork lid., incised initials to the base. Height 38 cm

Roy Cowan, tall ovoid stoneware vase, with blue salt glaze and…

Blue Salt Glaze Ovoid Vase with Geometric Decoration

Roy Cowan, tall ovoid stoneware vase, with blue salt glaze and incised geometric decoration, incised initials to the base. Height 48 cm

Roy Cowan, platter, entitled Tussock, painted by Grant, Tilly,…

Tussock Platter by Grant & Tilly

Roy Cowan, platter, entitled Tussock, painted by Grant, Tilly, 46 cm length

Roy Cowan. Floor pot, salt glazed stoneware with incised…

Salt-glazed Stoneware Floor Pot with Incised Windows

Roy Cowan. Floor pot, salt glazed stoneware with incised windows on Wellington decoration. Height 73 cm. Diameter 29 cm

Roy Cowan. Floor pot, a large and impressive salt glazed…

Floral Floor Pot - 98cm Height

Roy Cowan. Floor pot, a large and impressive salt glazed stoneware floor pot with a band of incised floral decoration. Height 98 cm. Diameter 36 cm

Roy Cowan. Ovoid floor vase, handpainted with stylised…

Handpainted Polychrome Vase with Bubble Decoration

Roy Cowan. Ovoid floor vase, handpainted with stylised circular/bubble decoration in polychrome glazes, 31 cm height

Roy Cowan. Large ovoid vase, blue/green & yellow salt glaze,…

Blue-green salt glaze ovoid vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan. Large ovoid vase, blue/green & yellow salt glaze, incised mark, 43 cm height

Roy Cowan. Wall hanging charger, handpainted with motorcyclists…

Polychrome Motorcyclist Wall Charger

Roy Cowan. Wall hanging charger, handpainted with motorcyclists in polychrome glazes, inscribed with initials & paper label, 40 cm diameter

Roy Cowan, impressive floor vase, with incised concentric,…

Blue Salt Glaze Floor Vase with Geometric Circles

Roy Cowan, impressive floor vase, with incised concentric, geometric circles in blue salt glaze, height 50 cm. Provenance: The Russell McVeagh Collection of Applied arts

Roy Cowan, stoneware vase, with ash glaze, signed with initials…

Ash Glazed Stoneware Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, stoneware vase, with ash glaze, signed with initials to base, height 21 cm. Provenance: New Vision Gallery Collection

Roy Cowan, ovoid vase, stoneware with blue salt glaze and…

Floral Ovoid Stoneware Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, ovoid vase, stoneware with blue salt glaze and extensive incised floral decoration. Initials to base. Height 27 cm. Diameter 33 cm

Roy Cowan, ovoid vase, salt glazed stoneware with incised…

Salt Glazed Stoneware Ovoid Vase by Roy Cowan

Roy Cowan, ovoid vase, salt glazed stoneware with incised decoration and brown and amber stripes, everted rim. Initials to base. Height 36 cm. Diameter 27 cm

Roy Cowan, sculpture, a large stoneware sculpture of slab…

Iron Glazed Stoneware Sculpture with Openings

Roy Cowan, sculpture, a large stoneware sculpture of slab construction with various openings, iron glaze to sides. Height 109 cm. Width 57 cm. Depth 44 cm

A large 1970s Roy Cowan large slab built sculpture, of tall…

Large Roy Cowan Sculpture with Provenance

A large 1970s Roy Cowan large slab built sculpture, of tall flared narrow trough form, pale speckled grey glaze to the central area flanked by red/brown and black mottled areas, the compartmentalised interior with pierced slab supports. 111 cm x 23 cm x…