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Stepahead Ceramics, Tapa lll, OO, N.P.C. Studio Ceramics
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Jeremy Ashford
Maryr
Ev
haselnuss
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NEW ZEALAND POTTERY :: New Zealand Commercial Potteries :: More New Zealand Commercial Potteries :: Studio Ceramics
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Stepahead Ceramics - Tapa1
Found this pair yesterday & thought they may be of interest.Cups numbered 203 & 208? out of 300 & signed KP from 1997. Saucers one has (illegible) + Nat and the other the 2 circles NZ 97 mark.
chef- Number of posts : 52
Registration date : 2010-09-24
Re: Stepahead Ceramics, Tapa lll, OO, N.P.C. Studio Ceramics
Hi there admin, can you please add Stepahead Ceramics to the original heading of this discussion as all the work is from that one brand.
I have have talked to Matt Nisbet from Stepahead Ceramics. The Tapa design is his. It was first made in 1995, and was in production for 22 years. Matt was very proud of the fact that Barry Brickell had some in his kitchen – cast ceramics! He said that at first he made his own blanks, then Studio Ceramics produced two Tapa designs under licence; a total of over 100,000 pieces were made in Stepahead designs. Some were sold overseas. He consulted the Samoan community before using the Tapa motif.
To my joy, Matt told me that he has always been very careful to mark his work and include the artist’s name. So my jug (below) is in the Koru pattern by Alex Burton, painted in the year 2000.
Matt now hopes to do some new pieces using some of the Studio Ceramics moulds and shapes which he bought at the closing down sale.
As I understand it: This jug was made under contract by Studio Ceramics. The mark is correctly described as Stepahead Ceramics, artist Alex Burton
This vase was made by Matt, who once had a studio near the Ambrico kiln. Correctly described as Stepahead Ceramics, Matt Nisbet
I have have talked to Matt Nisbet from Stepahead Ceramics. The Tapa design is his. It was first made in 1995, and was in production for 22 years. Matt was very proud of the fact that Barry Brickell had some in his kitchen – cast ceramics! He said that at first he made his own blanks, then Studio Ceramics produced two Tapa designs under licence; a total of over 100,000 pieces were made in Stepahead designs. Some were sold overseas. He consulted the Samoan community before using the Tapa motif.
To my joy, Matt told me that he has always been very careful to mark his work and include the artist’s name. So my jug (below) is in the Koru pattern by Alex Burton, painted in the year 2000.
Matt now hopes to do some new pieces using some of the Studio Ceramics moulds and shapes which he bought at the closing down sale.
As I understand it: This jug was made under contract by Studio Ceramics. The mark is correctly described as Stepahead Ceramics, artist Alex Burton
This vase was made by Matt, who once had a studio near the Ambrico kiln. Correctly described as Stepahead Ceramics, Matt Nisbet
Maryr- Number of posts : 1995
Location : Whangarei
Registration date : 2011-11-17
Mystery solved
Matthew Nisbet of Stepahead Ceramics - now www.stepa.nz
The double circle is my mark, since 1994.
This was used by someone else for a while, until they realised it has, and is used.
The markings denote;
NZ- New Zealand
95-19 (including 00) the year of manufacture
Tapa1-4, Koru, Brown Tapa, Zebra etc - the design name
Nat, Penny, Mu, Matthew, and many others - the painter
a N.P.C denotes, Natalie, Penny, and Caroline worked on this piece.
The limited series are used to trial a design, if successful, the numbering disappears
Currently working on ex Studio Ceramics forms, with Hand Painting in a limited releases.
A full history and archive will be published, currently being put together for Val Monk's awaited book, on NZ Production Ceramics since Crown Lynn.
You are welcome to email through the web site above for information on work.
There is a large archive held, images etc will be online in the future
The double circle is my mark, since 1994.
This was used by someone else for a while, until they realised it has, and is used.
The markings denote;
NZ- New Zealand
95-19 (including 00) the year of manufacture
Tapa1-4, Koru, Brown Tapa, Zebra etc - the design name
Nat, Penny, Mu, Matthew, and many others - the painter
a N.P.C denotes, Natalie, Penny, and Caroline worked on this piece.
The limited series are used to trial a design, if successful, the numbering disappears
Currently working on ex Studio Ceramics forms, with Hand Painting in a limited releases.
A full history and archive will be published, currently being put together for Val Monk's awaited book, on NZ Production Ceramics since Crown Lynn.
You are welcome to email through the web site above for information on work.
There is a large archive held, images etc will be online in the future
Stepahead Ceramics- Number of posts : 1
Registration date : 2017-09-21
Re: Stepahead Ceramics, Tapa lll, OO, N.P.C. Studio Ceramics
Hi Matt this is Val. I am glad you have added to this post - thank you for the info. I am still slowly writing... Studio Ceramics was so BIG with so many artists and designers associated with it.
Maryr- Number of posts : 1995
Location : Whangarei
Registration date : 2011-11-17
Re: Stepahead Ceramics, Tapa lll, OO, N.P.C. Studio Ceramics
Hi there, i was wondering, can you still buy the Tapa 3 anywhere?Maryr wrote:Brilliant info thanks Matt and Finn.
jeffozz1- Number of posts : 1
Registration date : 2024-09-26
Re: Stepahead Ceramics, Tapa lll, OO, N.P.C. Studio Ceramics
It looks like Stepahead Ceramics will be making this pattern again, but I can't find it in a catalogue......
More in depth research is required.
https://www.stepa.nz/tapa-ceramics
More in depth research is required.
https://www.stepa.nz/tapa-ceramics
Re: Stepahead Ceramics, Tapa lll, OO, N.P.C. Studio Ceramics
More recent info here. I am not sure how Matt Nisbett is going with his projects.
https://www.eketahuna.co.nz/?p=3006
https://www.eketahuna.co.nz/?p=3006
Maryr- Number of posts : 1995
Location : Whangarei
Registration date : 2011-11-17
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