A Couple Of Favorites

Most collectors are continually assessing the boundaries
of their collections. As I've told you in the past, my col-
lection is limited to pottery made in B.C. but within that
boundary there are more lines to be drawn. Compared to
other parts of the world, the time boundary is easily set
because there really isn't a history of pottery in B.C.
before the 20th century. In most parts of the world, and
1 always think of the mystic of the Mesopotamian or Nile
valleys, there is much to be learned from the shards of
ancient pottery found by archeologists as they dig to
study origins. Here in B.C. , however , the indigenous peoples do
not have an ancient history of pottery but rather made their tools
and gathering and domestic implements from cedar and bone and
other naturally available materials. 1 could limit my collecting to a
decade or a 20-year period or half a century, or I could limit it to
a particular region within the province . Someday for the sake of
space, I may have to strike those limits but for the time being, |
keep with the pieces I like best and try to make choices when |
have too much of one particular potter. Even that is not always
accomplished and there are those few whose work | keep adding
too, find after find . I've written about a few of these before and I
want to mention just a couple of more.

Axel Ebring has had a great deal written about him over the years
with the informative dedication to him in Bob Kingsmill’s 1978
Catalogue of British Columbian Potters, a picture and brief history
in Made of Clay published by the guild and Gail Crawford's sec-
tion about Axel in her more recent book Studio Ceramics in
Canada. \ have a fairly good sized collection of his work and am
always excited when I find another piece. I have sold a few pieces
to other collectors who wanted an example or had a particular lik-
ing for his work. One collector, even, was born in Vernon near
where Ebring lived and has always been fascinated with the lore
and tales he had heard of the potter who used to live down the
road.

In his catalogue, Bob Kingsmill says Ebring seems to have been a
craftsman of some considerable skill and other potters and writers
appear to agree. Many collectors, however, are familiar only with
small pieces that used to be frequently found in thrift stores and
had lots of chips and damage and to many seemed primitive.
Ebring’s work is often chipped when you find it. and I assume
that’s due in part to the materials and equipment he had available
when he worked. Add to that the 50 or more years it has been in
use and a few chips are not surprising. What does always surprise
me though is the variety, subtlety and nuance of color in his
glazes. I have a number of jugs and creamers and pitchers etc. and
when I first find them I think , "I have one like this", but
than when set side by side they each stand up as unique .
Besides the endless color variations there are also many
unusual and graceful shapes. Ebring’s work was produced
to sell for household use and not only did his neighbors
buy it, but it seems people travelled great distances to pur-
chase work at his studio. Pictured here are some of his
more standard table wares and a couple more unusual,
but useful, vases.

The crystallines pictured here were by Otto Wichman.

June 2006

A shelf of Axel Ebring pots.

He lived and worked in White Rock and one resident has told me
he arrived there in the 1940s. I don't really know much about him
though, and have found him in no books or catalogues. His crys-
tallines came in a wide variety of colors and his many shapes seem
very classical. If you have anymore information about Wichman
or just want to be in touch you can reach me at my shop, DoDa
Antiques 434 Richards St. Vancouver, (604)602-0559, or e-mail
me at jdis@telus.net .

John Lawrence

Ebrings first studio in the mid 20s to early 30s was at NotchHill. It
is suspected his clay ran out there when he moved into Vernon. Most
of his pots were than marked Vernon with his name being rather
more rare.

In the last few years of his
Life , it is said, Ebring suf-
Jered from severe arthritis
and could not work at his
wheel so he made handbuilt
Figures like this dog.

Otto Wichman crystallines

Potters Guild of British Columbia Newsletter 7