These Hornsea Beaded pots deserve a closer look

This delicate surface pattern is known as Beaded. The pots are by Hornsea Pottery. The graphic designer, I think, is Jack Dadd. The range is from the early 1970s.

To me, the design has a wonderful lace-like quality and the black linework on the ivory-coloured background looks clean and bold. The look is further enhanced by the slight irregularities that occur in the hand-drawn design.

I understand that the range was not a good seller for Hornsea. It's a pity. Because I think this is a design that deserves a closer look.

I found another example of Jack Dadd's work in the V&A museum. You can see it here Jack Dadd mug

Limoges. A miniature plate with a mysterious Paris scene

I found this tiny little china plate and, to be honest, it's a bit of a mystery to me.

The plate measures just over 6cm (2 and a half inches) in diameter and is marked Limoges, France on the base.

The plate has a stylish illustration of a Paris street scene at night. But what is going on? A man walks with his hands in his pockets past a shop window. A lady stands, smoking a cigarette, in the pale yellow light of a street lamp.

I've seen lots of Limoges china plates before, many are decorated with classical romantic garden scenes by Fragonard. Although they are quite decorative, they don't really fit in with my collection.

But this Limoges plate, I like. So if you do know anything about it, I would be delighted to find out more.

A Scheurich vase with subtle decoration. Surely not?

Just a quick blog-post to show you this good looking vase from West Germany.

I'm fairly sure this is by the Scheurich factory. I would say that the vase dates from the 1970s. As far as these West German vases go, this one has quite a restrained, dare I say subtle, decoration. There are repeated motifs in red 'lava' glaze on a deep blue background.

Collectors of 'fat lava' seem to have waited a long time for it to happen, but I get the feeling that this type of pottery is slowly becoming desirable and that prices are beginning to gradually rise.

For more detailed information on West German pottery and some great pictures, there's an excellent blog here: Blurat blog

Soholm Joseph Simon wall tile. What a relief.

One of my first blog-posts on Potshots was on a selection of ceramic wall tiles by Soholm, Denmark. Some were designed by Noomi Backhausen. You can see the original blog-post here: Soholm wall plaques

Here's another Soholm wall tile, this time designed by Joseph Simon. I would say the tile dates from the mid-1970s. The simplified and stylised illustration is wonderful and the rich red and blue glazes are intense and rich. One really striking aspect to this wall tile is the depth of the relief molding. There's a real three-dimensional feel to the tile. When it's displayed on a wall, it gives an impressive effect – a piece of art that's both a picture and a sculpture at the same time.

I have this wall tile hanging in my work room and it's a constant pleasure.

Vintage Boda bowl. Colourful handmade glass from Sweden

I found a smart little bowl at the weekend. This small glass bowl is beautifully decorated with a swirl of white, yellow, and red colouring.

I wouldn't think the bowl has much age to it but it is good looking enough to deserve a place on the Potshots shelf. There's a small silver sticker for Boda, Sweden and the base is engraved Boda. There is also a signature on the base that looks like 'Ulrica'. Could this be for Ulrica Hydman-Vallien perhaps? I hope so.

More information on Ulrica Hydman-Vallien: Ulrica and Boda glass

A pair of Italian vases. So hot, they're cool.

Two smart Italian vases. Not pottery this time, these vases are made of glass.

The square shaped bases and the narrowing round necks make for a very pleasing shape. I like the the hot red and warm brown colours. Also, the lively marbled effect in the glass which has the look of flames and smoke. The vases were not bought together but they do make quite a stylish pair. It would be easy to place them in a modern mid-century styled interior.

The vases were made in the 1960s or 1970s by V. B. Opaline, Florence. There seems to be a lack of information on this manufacturer and their products. I can't find any details of their production dates or their designers. Perhaps the company was only small or they were making glass for just a short time.

Even so, whoever V. B. Opaline were, I'm glad they made these vases.