Titian Potteries History

In trying to ascertain the exact years that Crown Lynn ran Titian Potteries I have found that there are three files at the Archives regarding Titian Potteries.

One is at the Auckland Archives titled:
Auckland closed company files:
Titian Pottery (1987) Ltd c.1991

Two in Wgton :
Compensation Court:
Crown Lynn Potteries & Titian Potteries Ltd
Employees Agreement 1981

Dispute of Rights Files:
Inspector of Awards versus Titian Pottery (1965) Ltd 1981

I got the information from the Museum and do you think I can find it??

From Heather's notes from the Museum Library:

Crown Lynn announces link with Titian in May 1969.

Titian had a purpose built pottery on Great South Road, Takanini. The land was owned by Robert and Una Ross purchased in 1970. The site was "1 care 1 rood 5.6 perches more or less being Lot 2 Deposited Plan 62822 and being part Takaanini's grant". It was 5201 metres square.

Well I went to the local Library Research Centre last week to try to find out from old phone books about Titian's history. I ended up finding heaps of history about NZ Commercial potters and noted them down as time frames are important and there were some surprising Titian listings. Many of the old phone books were missing from the time that I was interested in but never mind this is what I found ....

1966 - White Pages only - no listings for Titian Pottery

1972 - White Pages only - no listings for Titian Pottery

1974 - Yellow Pages under Ceramics - Titian Pottery LTD. Great South Road, Takanini

1983 - Yellow Pages - Titian Pottery 1965 Ltd. Clark St, New Lynn [same ph no as C/Lynn]

1987 - Yellow Pages - Titian Pottery (1965) Ltd. Clark St, New Lynn. Factory Gt Sth Rd, Takanini

1988 - Yellow Pages - Titian Pottery (1965) Ltd. Clark St, New Lynn. Factory Gt Sth Rd, Takanini

1989 - Yellow Pages - Titian Pottery (1965) Ltd. Clark St, New Lynn. Factory Gt Sth Rd, Takanini

1990 - Yellow Pages - Titian Pottery (1965) Ltd. Clark St, New Lynn. [same ph no as C/Lynn]

1991 - Yellow Pages - no listing for Titian Pottery - the last listing for Crown Lynn shows up under
Crown Lynn Ceramics NZ Ltd. Clark St, New Lynn

This booklet is pure history and there is a Directory of Ceramco Companies.

Titian Pottery (1965) Ltd:

Est 1965. Ceramco acqd 49% interest 1969
balance 1971. Crockery mftr

Location: Auckland.

So this gives us very definite dates for the takeover.
There are some vases that were made 10.10.69 that have a green lustre on them
and the fact that they coincide with the above dates is no surprise.

Ev this is wonderful research. Bless you.

Ev, does this mean that until 1969 all CL castware was made either in New Lynn or Christchurch?

Yes, although Luke Adams didn't get going until about 1968 if I remember correctly.

I worked for Ceramco from late 1974 till 1981 and my first job was as a slip caster at Titian in November 74 working for Fred Hoffman. It was well established then producing mainly mugs bowls and jugs.

Wow thank you so much for stopping by and you are the first one to come here.

There are many things that we would love to know from that time, but the only one I can think of right now is did they make these lustred Crown Lynn vases at the Titian Pottery when you were there? Cheers Ev

The details below aren't quite right. It was Crown Lynn that acquired 49% interest in Titian Pottery (1965) Ltd in 1969 - not Ceramco. Crown Lynn didn't change its name to Ceramco until 1974.

Ev wrote:This booklet is pure history and there is a Directory of Ceramco Companies.

Titian Pottery (1965) Ltd:

Est 1965.  Ceramco acqd 49% interest 1969
balance 1971.  Crockery mftr

Location:  Auckland.

So this gives us very definite dates for the takeover.
There are some vases that were made 10.10.69 that have a green lustre on them
and the fact that they coincide with the above dates is no surprise.

I will take a photo of that info tomorrow for you Louise.
I didn't make it up, but quoted.
Best to see the original.

Oh, I never thought you made it up Ev. I only wanted to bring attention that original source's (Directory of Ceramco Companies) info appears incorrect.

Point taken Louise and it appears that once they changed their name to Ceramco in 1974, they used the name to cover all of their years of pottery making.
For example the Ceramco 50th Jubilee Trinket Pot 1929 - 1979.

This is the booklet that covers the history: