Owen W Salisbury, Pioneer commercial potter, 1911-1985

Owen W Salisbury,pioneer commercial potter, 1911~1985
Founder of Royal Oak Pottery, SAMA and Salisbury Ware.

The independent years 1976~1985.
Owen Salisbury was a leading commercial potter and entrepreneur who contributed to the growth of New Zealand's emerging ceramic industry through Royal Oak Pottery,SAMA and Salisbury Ware.

In 1976, Royal Oak pottery had out grown its original site in the suburb of Royal Oak and moved to a larger premises in a new building in Henderson.
Then aged 65 years,Owen wanted to continue working part-time but was reluctant to travel out West each day from his home in Three Kings.

He decided to continue working on his own producing domestic ware at the Royal Oak site (formerly the stables building for the Hunter family farm)

During this period,he created and decorated domestic slip ware,including coffee mugs,wine goblets,decanters and the like. He sold the ware from his on-site shop,as well as at Royal Oak Pottery's outlet store in Henderson. The items were often creatively packaged in sets to make gift-giving easy and were particularly popular for birthday and wedding celebrations.

He also continued experiment and test new slip cast ware and glazes using a range of materials,including earth ware,stoneware,oven ware and porcelain.

When the lease on the Royal Oak building ended.Owen joined the team out West,working from a building next to the factory on Henderson Valley Road.

All of his ware was unmarked with no back stamp added apart from the very occasional signature on the base.
The following photographs are of items made during this period.
Written by 
Carmela (Granddaughter )

Owen Salisbury 1962

Wonderful. Thank you Oakpot and Carmela.

You guys must have done well with that floral "mother" mug. I have seen quite a few around.

Oakpot thank you again for posting these wonderful photos - they are a very valuable resource. I so want to find one of Owen's jaunty floral pieces.  Meanwhile, below are pics of a vase belonging to another collector.  The floral decoration is very distinctive; can you tell me if it is Salisbury?

These photos are courtesy Kay Button - Oakpot I am SO hoping you can give us an answer on this one!

I saw another vase with this style of decoration on TradeMe recently; it was an unusual CL shape and to my eternal shame I told the seller it wasn't Crown Lynn. Ouch!

Thank you Maryr. The vase above is a Crown Lynn blank, decorated and sold by Owen Salisbury during the 1940's.
In the photo below there are two No 36 vases,one has a similar finish to the Kay Button's item.

Thanks again Oakpot. I will pass on that information.

Just to add a note for future researchers - Te Toi Uku Museum in New Lynn was given some objects / photos relating to Royal Oak Potteries by the family. http://portageceramicstrust.org.nz/ call to arrange a time to view. (they're not online yet).

Fortunate find,  Owen Salisbury jug . Purchased from JUNK & DISORDERLY Paeroa  $18.00