Australian potters' marks
A work in progress
This list of initials used on Epsom ware from 1968 to date was provided by Rod Thomson of Bendigo Pottery.
Throwers
| Initials | Name | Date joined | Date left |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.G. | Alec Gill | Jan 1935 | Apr 1986 |
| A.L. | Allan Letts | Jun 1940 | Aug 1974 |
| P.D. | Peter Devanny | Jul 1971 | 1979 |
| D.C. | David Crothers | Apr 1973 | Jan 1974 |
| S.M. | Stephen Miller | Feb 1972 | Mar 1973 |
| G.I. | Gary Ingham | May 1975 | May 1976 |
| W.A. | William Akkermans | Aug 1973 | 1984 |
| K.H. | Ken Hovenden | Apr 1972 | At least 1980 [1] |
| T.J. | Tom Johns | Mar 1972 | Feb 1973 |
| M.C. | Malcolm Cooke | Nov 1971 | May 1973 |
| N.M. | Neil McGrath | Apr 1974 | Jun 1975 |
| K.T. | Ken Tresize | Aug 1972 | 1982 |
| N.A. | Neil Appelby | Mar 1977 | 1979 |
| A.D. | Adrian Denham | Jan 1976 | Jul 1979 |
| P.B. | Peter Boyle | Dec 1988 | Jan 1992 |
| G.B. | Greg Bulger | Aug 1984 | Apr 1996 |
| T.E. | Terence Emond | Sep 1978 | 1980 [2] |
| R.F. | Ricky Fuzzard | Aug 1979 | Feb 1985 |
| J.K. | Joseph Keene | Jan 1984 | |
| D.M. | Doug Macauley | Dec 1988 | |
| N.M. | Neil McGrath Mar | 1984 | |
| S.M. | Suzanne Metcalfe | Mar 1990 | |
| L.R. | Leigh Royle | Jun 1990 | |
| I.R. | Ian Thurrowgood | Jan 1991 | |
| D.L. | David Lyons | Jan 1990 | Oct 1993 |
| R.W. | Richard Walsh | Apr 1994 | Dec 2000 |
| R.W.* | Richard Wade | Oct 1996 | Mar 2002 |
| B.H. | Bruce Heggie | Jan 1999 | Nov 2003 |
| R.H. | Robert Henderson | Jul 2000 | |
| G.M. | Graham Masters | Nov 2003 | |
| G.J. | Gary Johnstone | 2000 | 2003 |
| G.S. | Graham Skinner | Aug 2002 | Jan 2007 |
| B.N. | Barry Norman | Mar 2007 | |
| G.H. | Gretchen Hillhouse | Nov 2003 | |
| J.F. | Jo Fraser | Nov 2003 | |
| D.S. | David Stuchbury | Feb 2008 |
Jolley hands
| Initials | Name | Date joined | Date left |
|---|---|---|---|
| N.B. | Noel Bailey | 1968 | 1973 |
| J.H. | John Hubbard | ||
| R.G. | Rodney Green | Apr 1973 | Jun 1974 |
| R.S. | Roland Sharpe | Jan 1974 | Jul 1974 |
| B.D. | Blair Dutton | Aug 1973 | Jul 1974 |
| D.R. | Donald Richardson | Jun 1975 | Apr 1977 |
| I.P. | Ian Preston | Jul 1955 | Feb 1997 |
| J.M. | Justin Mollison | Aug 1975 | Feb 1977 |
| K.P. | Kevin Priest | Jan 1977 | |
| K.C. | Ken Campbell | Jan 1977 | 1990 |
| D.J. | David Johnston | Apr 1984 | May 1985 |
| P.K. | Phillip Kiley | Apr 1984 | |
| C.M. | Colin Morris | Jul 1983 | Apr 1985 |
| B.M. | Brian Murdoch | Oct 1979 | 1981 |
| H.P. | Harold Palmer | Apr 1984 | |
| M.P. | Mody Porter | Feb 1977 | |
| T.R. | Terence Rogers | Mar 1979 |
Decorators
| Initials | Name | Date joined | Date left |
|---|---|---|---|
| T.T. | Trevor Tresize | Aug 1972 | Apr 1973 |
| D.L. | Debbie Lee | Aug 1984 | |
| W.C. | Wendy Cheyne | 1984 | 1987 |
1. Ken Hovenden was still working for Bendigo Pottery in 1980 when he was sent to the US for a year (information provided by his son).
2. A jug with the initials T.E. and the date 2 81 suggests he was still working there in 1981.
Plus, these additional decorators were included in the table of craftsmen’s initials in Paul A. Scholes, Bendigo Pottery, Kilmore, Vic. : Lowden Publishing, 1979, p. 232.
:
| Initials | Name | Date joined | Date left |
|---|---|---|---|
| F.G. | Frank Gill | Nov 1934 | Aug 1969 |
| T.M. | Tom Metcalfe | 1968 | 1973 |
| T.H. | Tom Hicks | Aug 1971 | May 1973 |
| W.B. | Wally Blandford | Apr 1955 |
Other initials identified
I.E. Ivan Eales, J.E. Jeff Eales; also Jeff Eales’ wife (information provided by Andrea below). A.N.G. is likely to be Alan Neal Gillingham who started at the Pottery in 1983 (information provided by Lily below via Bendigo Pottery).
Initials not yet identified
B.J., S.R.
Discussion
40 thoughts on “Bendigo Pottery craftsmen’s initials”
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Australian potters' marks 
I have two large 36cm high x 20cm dia what looks to me like pottery pickle jars… no lids . One is marked
Bendigo Pottery
27
EPSOM.
The other is unmarked and has blemishes but is identical and perhaps a factory second purchased at the same time..
They have no initials or other markings.
Any help would be great.
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Posted by Marcel Tabone | April 27, 2013, 1:19 pmHi Marcel, with the information here and in the Bendigo Pottery entry in Australian Potters’ Marks you now know as much as I do. Perhaps Bendigo Pottery itself, which is still in operation, could be of further help.
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Posted by Judith | April 27, 2013, 1:47 pmYes makes sense.
Thanks Judith.
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Posted by Marcel Tabone | April 27, 2013, 2:40 pmI have a Bendigo Pottery what looks like a coffee pot or maybe a tea pot. It is marked Bendigo Pottery, has a handle and on the top of the rim several small holes set out in a square, maybe a strainer for tea. I cannot see any other marks. The lid has a tiny heart on it. I would very much appreciated if you could tell me the date it was made and perhaps the value.
Many thanks
Holly
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Posted by Holly Weston | January 23, 2014, 3:28 pmHi Holly, our topic on Bendigo Pottery contains information that may help you date this item. The best way to get an idea of what Bendigo Pottery is currently selling for on the secondary market is to monitor results on eBay.
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Posted by Judith | January 23, 2014, 4:08 pmI have a Bendigo pottery vase with the initials IE on the bottom, but can’t see these intials above. Is this person a more recent addition to the staff?
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Posted by Roger Size | April 20, 2014, 11:36 pmHi Roger, this is all we have so far about the Bendigo Potters. The Bendigo Pottery itself might know more. Please let me know if you find out who IE is.
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Posted by Judith | April 21, 2014, 10:27 amHi Roger, did you manage to find out who IE is. I have a sauce/gravy jug which also has IE stamped on the bottom. The Throwers initial is AL (Allan Letts) in the Bendigo Pottery Epsom stamp.The bottom is also stamped “HÄNDMADE STONEWARE” I also have several other pieces with Thrower’s initials AL & AG but no other initials on the bottom. Curious hey?
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Posted by Philip Kent | October 10, 2014, 9:25 amHello I have a small Bendigo Pottery carafe with Australia stamped instead of Epsom the initials are J.K which I am assuming is Joseph Keene, only thing is I am sure this item was purchased late 1970’S and Joseph commenced with Bendigo pottery in 1984 have I mistaken the time I purchased this carafe?
Most of the pottery I have viewed has Epsom instead of Australia as part of the stamping is there a significance in this.
Thanks you for your time and any information is appreciated regards Mary
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Posted by Mary | February 2, 2015, 2:08 pmHi Mary, answers to some of your questions are in the full Bendigo Pottery entry (https://www.flickr.com/groups/austpots/discuss/72157630142562364/). Have a look in particular at this comment: https://www.flickr.com/groups/austpots/discuss/72157630142562364/#comment72157630443387540) which explains when Australia started to be used instead of Epsom. The information in this entry and the list of Bendigo Pottery Craftsmen’s Initials are the only information we have at the moment so I can’t answer your question about JK.
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Posted by Judith | February 2, 2015, 2:56 pmHi. I have a jug with initials TE. The jug seems to have a 2 81 date on the bottom but your list shows TE [Terence Emond] leaving in 1980. I got the jug in 1981. Is it still likely to be Terence Emond?
regards,
Lee
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Posted by Lee Moles | March 29, 2015, 11:01 amHi Lee, All we have to go on at Australian Potters Marks is the list but if the 2 81 mark on the bottom of your jug is a date, this does suggest that Terence Emond was still working there in 1981. The list is based on records held by Bendigo Pottery so it might be worth taking your query there.
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Posted by Judith | March 29, 2015, 11:16 amHi I have a 1930’s Bendigo pottery vase, with the letter S and the number N24 on the bottom, does anyone know what the marking mean. I was told it was the prototype made by the head potter.
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Posted by Dallas.dianne@gmail.com | May 7, 2015, 7:54 pmHi Diana, work from the 1930s is out of scope for the Australian Potters’ Marks project. The Australian Pottery group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/australianpottery/) deals with earlier Australian pottery and may be able to help you with your query.
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Posted by Judith | May 7, 2015, 8:07 pmThe initials IE were Ivan Eales, he was the brother of Jeff Eales whom was also a potter there as was his wife.
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Posted by Andrea | August 14, 2015, 9:24 amThank your Andrea. What would have been the initials used by Jeff Eales’ wife, I wonder?
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Posted by Judith | August 14, 2015, 9:54 amI have a jug from the 1970s with initials MH stamped as well as a signature that starts with Jus__ and a single V. Can you glean anything from that?
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Posted by Caroline Greenwood | November 8, 2015, 4:24 pmEverything I know is in this list and the full Bendigo Pottery entry here. To find out more you would probably do best to ask at Bendigo Pottery. If you find any information please let me know, and it would also be useful if you added your images to our photo pool on Flickr.
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Posted by Judith | November 8, 2015, 5:26 pmI have a large Bendigo Pottery Epsom 27 Acid Jar. Stamped on the front “SULPHURIC ACID” and around the top is pressed the words ” Commonwealth Fertilisers & Chemicals Limited” with another mark of an incomplete diamond shape with what appears to be a sickle inside it pressed into the pottery. Just wondering if anyone can help me with any other info re date etc.
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Posted by Jenny Hamilton | November 18, 2015, 12:39 pmHi Jenny, the Australian Potters’ Marks website is not set up as a forum but rather as a place to record what we know so far. If you want help with this piece, you’ll need to go to the Identifying Australian Pottery group on Flickr and ask there. If you upload images first, then add them to the Bendigo Pottery topic someone may know more. Another place to ask would be the Australian Studio Pottery Collectors group on Facebook and you could also try contacting Bendigo Pottery itself.
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Posted by Judith | November 18, 2015, 3:58 pmThanks so much for your help Judith !!!
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Posted by Jenny Hamilton | November 18, 2015, 9:25 pmI Was given a pottery set that was from a coworker’s family estate. The initials are RCM. Would anyone know who this is?
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Posted by Malilka White | December 3, 2015, 12:26 pmHi Malilka, the Australian Potters’ Marks website is not set up as a forum but rather as a place to record what we know so far. RCM is not on the list of Craftsman’s initials so if you want help with this piece, you might do best to ask at Bendigo Pottery itself. If you get an answer to your query, please let me know so that I can add the initials to this list.
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Posted by Judith | December 3, 2015, 12:53 pmHi. I found a piece of Bendigo pottery from maker GM, Graham Masters. This piece is both hand signed and dated 7-4-03 which predates your site stating he began in November. Mentioning this for reference sake and can give photos of both the piece and dating for documentation If interested message me back on my email address. A better than usual 21st century piece as they are not often signed and dated.
Thank you
Richard
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Posted by richard | January 10, 2016, 7:14 pmThanks Richard, I will email you.
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Posted by Judith | January 10, 2016, 7:35 pmHi, i have a brown coffee mug with the embossed pattern of a the front of a train with capital embossed name BENDIGO on 1side and a mining structure on the other. There isnt any other inscription on it. Is this a bendigo pottery item?? Much appreciated.
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Posted by Chrys | January 15, 2016, 4:20 pmI’m sorry Chrys, I don’t know. You could ask Bendigo Pottery.
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Posted by Judith | January 15, 2016, 6:35 pmI have a bendigo pottery stamp here with the initials S.R… not on your list above
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Posted by Rob | May 29, 2016, 2:10 pmI have 2 bendigo pottery goblets with A.N.G. initials. Can you tell me who the initials belong to? Thanks for the fantastic reference site you’re maintaining. Very much appreciated.
Cheers
Lily
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Posted by Lily-Anne Kerr | August 14, 2016, 5:46 amIf these initials are not on the list, I can’t help. You could try asking Bendigo Pottery.
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Posted by Judith | August 14, 2016, 9:13 amHi
I contacted Bendigo Pottery and asked about the initials A.N.G. There reply was that it’s likely Alan Neal Gillingham who started at the Pottery in 1983.
Regards
Lily
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Posted by Lily-Anne Kerr | August 24, 2016, 7:33 pmHi lily, that’s great to know.
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Posted by Judith | August 24, 2016, 10:05 pmI have a large 15L pot with the initials
N.B. Noel Bailey. 1968 – 73
My question is does anyone know if lead was used in the inner glaze in those days?
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Posted by alex8lygnos | November 19, 2016, 6:26 amHi Alex, this is a question Bendigo Pottery may be able to answer.
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Posted by Judith | November 19, 2016, 11:31 amhello. First time here. I have a Bendigo Pottery 1858 jar which has the stamp of coffee on it. It also has a kangaroo , a map of Australia with a urn like object in the middle and an emu on the other side. Also has maybe wheat stems on each side . Never seen this before. I guess there maybe similar sugar jars as well as possibly flower jars with similar pictures. Can anyone shed any light on this as there are no initials or markings anywhere else?. Thanks
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Posted by robert | March 9, 2017, 10:32 pmI have pottery with the initials S.R any info on this?
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Posted by Frank | April 17, 2017, 1:36 amHi Frank, if these initials are not on the list, I can’t help. You could try asking Bendigo Pottery.
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Posted by Judith | April 17, 2017, 9:55 amHello, I wonder if you could help me please, I have a small Bendigo canister like a bread crock shape that is not glazed at all it, but it does have the Bendigo stamp on it.
Thank you Kaye
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Posted by Kaye | July 31, 2017, 3:32 pmHi Kay, does this canister have a mark not yet recorded in Bendigo Pottery Craftsmen’s initials. If so, I will add it to the list if you can tell me what it is. Otherwise, you would do better to post photos of your piece on the Australian Pottery Discussion group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/australianpottery/. Judith
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Posted by Judith | July 31, 2017, 3:52 pmHi Roger, have you got any dates from when Ivan Eales worked at Bendigo Pottery? Thanks Warwick
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Posted by Warwick Phillips | October 7, 2019, 6:12 pm