Superb 1901 Art Nouveau Brannam Barum Grotesque Puffin Bird Jug Frank Thomas

  
Here for your consideration is an absolutely fabulous, Art Nouveau/Arts and Crafts, Brannam Barum, 1901, comical/grotesque puffin, majolica, bird jug, complete with winged loop handle. Modelled with a quizzical expression and incised features and decorated in an all over green ground, with brown and blue highlights. It's in pretty good condition considering it's 116 years old and been through a couple of world wars. Condition, no chips, dinks, scratches, fleabites, or damage.

Just a very nice early piece of C H Brannam pottery. The base has the imprinted C H Brannam Barum mark, with a date stamp for 1901, and the initials FT for the decorator Frank Thomas. Its also got an incised British registration number 144561 which was first issued in 1891. Thomas Brannam took over the lease of an existing pottery at North Walk, and another in Litchdon Street Barnstaple. Like other pottery firms of the time the firm originally made utilitarian wares such as basic household items, floor tiles, bricks and sewage pipes.

This was their "bread and butter" trade although one of his decorative jugs secured a medal at the Great Exhibition in 1851. In 1867 Thomas' son, Charles Hubert Brannam, left school at age 12 to start work at the pottery. Charles won a prize for art at school and also won the Queen's Prize for Drawing in 1870. Initially educated in the theory and practice of ceramics, he was encouraged by a local dignitary, Mr. William Frederick Rock, who invited him to London where he studied pottery in the various museums.

In 1879 he persuaded his father to allow him to produce art ware. His father agreed on the proviso that Charles paid for the materials he used. Charles eventually took over the Litchdon Street pottery and further developed the art pottery department utilising the process of "Sgraffito" work i.

Scratching into a covering of "slip" to show the clay beneath. He recruited skilled designers but also continued to throw the ware himself. In 1885 he received an order from Queen Victoria which resulted in excellent publicity for the business.

Charles handed the business over to his sons, Charles William Brannam, and John Woolacott (Jack) Brannam, in 1913. Brannam and Sons became a limited liability company. They found the old Litchdon Street premises too cramped for their operation, and in 1989 moved the company to a site on the Roundswell Industrial Estate. Despite the fact no member of the family was still connected with it, it was still called C. Brannam & Sons Ltd but ceased operations in 2005.

The original premises in Litchdon Street still partly survive with their terracotta detailing and stained glass with a preserved kiln still visible in the car park of a medical practice. The company has used many marks over the years including C H Brannam, Barum and Barnstaple. Barum was actually the Roman word for Barnstaple. Height: 10 inches or 25.3 cm. Depth: 5.5 inches or 14 cm (deepest point).

Width: 3.5 inches or 8.8 cm (widest point). Diameter: 4.65 inches or 11.8 cm (base).

Weight: 1.1 kg or 2lb 9 oz. This lovely, Charles Hubert Brannam comical grotesque puffin bird jug will be gently and carefully wrapped for its new owner. Please note all my international postal charges are only estimates and will be confirmed and altered up or down when I know the destination to where items are being sent. As you're already probably aware, old interesting comical pieces of Charles Hubert Brannam pottery are becoming ever more rare and hugely collectable. They're increasing in value, so real investment potential with this wonderful exquisite comical grotesque puffin bird jug. Please feel free to look at my other Items.

The item "Superb 1901 Art Nouveau Brannam Barum Grotesque Puffin Bird Jug Frank Thomas" is in sale since Saturday, May 4, 2019. This item is in the category "Pottery, Porcelain & Glass\Pottery\Devon/Torquay Ware\Brannam/Barnstaple".jewellery" and is located in Staffordshire. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Sub-Type: Birds
• Style: Art Nouveau
• Manufacturer/ Type: Brannam Barum
• Material: pottery
• Use: Decorative
• Colour: green
• Original/Reproduction: Antique Original
• Date Range: 1900-1919 (Art Nouveau)
• Year of Manufacture: 1901
• Product Type: puffin jug