Help decipher mark on Titian lamp

Ross Millar Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:40 am

I'm doing the auction catalogue of Jim Drummond's collection and have a Titian lamp with Gaylite sticker (- I think that Titian and Crown Lynn made pieces for them). The thing that has me stuck though is the impressed or incised signature that looks sort of like Ratjen or Rathjen - I'm sure that someone out there can help me with what/who this is.

Help decipher mark on Titian lamp Titian10

Titian Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:33 pm

Hi Ross
Wish I could see the whole thing!!! The person you need to speak with is Mary Morrison who is the acknowledged expert on Titian and I believe has a fair few lamp bases herself. Anything I say is just conjecture.

1. The Titian mould numbering system is based partly on codes for the company or the manager of the company they were making the vases/pots for. ie. K = Ken Lord, P = Paramount Trading etc. If this is a rare shape, could this be the name of the Gaylite manager of the time or someone connected to Gaylite?

2. The second more promising option is that on page 155 of the NZ pottery book is a reference to a range of lamp stands made to order for specific customers. "One such range was produced for a Dutchman..." The name of the Dutchman is not mentioned but your Rathjen does sound rather Dutch.

Sorry I can't offer you anything more certain.

Ross Millar Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:15 pm

Thanks for that Titian.
Jo was visiting today and was singing your praises for all the images you supplied to her.
I know Mary so will ask her.
In fact I think the lamp was exhibited at the [/i]Titian Studioware[i] exhibition at the Auckland Museum that Mary curated in 2002.
In the meantime for your delectation here is an image of the lamp. Not sure how the colour will reproduce online but it is an acid green coloured ‘orange peel’ glaze.

Help decipher mark on Titian lamp Titian11

**collectiques** Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:31 pm

Shazz might be able to help too when she comes on later. I remember she bought a really unusual lamp with a lady's face and Gaylite rings a bell. Also Savvy7 when he pops in from the UK ... Very Happy

**shazz** Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:44 pm

that signature looks like "Ralph" to me . Lovely lamp, Love the colour! is it a textured finish by chance?? - oop's , just read your last post..

**collectiques** Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:55 pm

shazz wrote:that signature looks like "Ralph" to me . Lovely lamp, Love the colour! is it a textured finish by chance?? - oop's , just read your last post..

is it a textured finish like your lamp shazz?

**shazz** Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:04 pm

collectiques wrote:
shazz wrote:that signature looks like "Ralph" to me . Lovely lamp, Love the colour! is it a textured finish by chance?? - oop's , just read your last post..

is it a textured finish like your lamp shazz?

Mines a rough texture, but similar in the base area. Maybe mines Gaylite??

Help decipher mark on Titian lamp Img_0018

Ross Millar Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:28 pm

I know what you mean that it looks like Ralph, it's just that the way the script is written it's by someone who was confident in signing and I can't see him/her putting the p in the Ralph up high as in RalPh. Also there is definately something at the end that is odd - a little stroke like a dot over an i or j. Thanks for your thoughts. I'm sure Mary Morrison will know of the history of Gaylite. i must admit to having sold lots of labelled pieces over the years but don't know of the history of the company or who/what it was.

Speaking to Jo today, and now seeing it in the flesh it's amazing how many people are looking/reading the forum but don't get on and chat...
I'm just very appreciative of all the work that's gone on historically to make it a brilliant site to visit. Love to hear from anybody with more ideas on the above.
Rosco

**savvy7** Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:26 pm

Sorry Ross,

I know very little about Titian lamps at all. However am intrigued by the up coming auction. It probably means lamps are about to be added to our collection - can't wait.

Ross Millar Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:15 pm

savvy7 wrote:Sorry Ross,

I know very little about Titian lamps at all. However am intrigued by the up coming auction. It probably means lamps are about to be added to our collection - can't wait.

Savvy7
I mentioned to Jo that we might be able to host a special evening before the auction just for NZ Pottery forum members to come along and have a 'private' viewing. I'm not sure how the dates will work out with other auctions in the rooms and set up and so forth but if it comes to pass will let everyone know.
Rosco

funho1 Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:13 pm

how many lots will there be in the Drummond auction - approximately ? Cheers Peter

Ross Millar Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:51 pm

Hi Peter, I've already catalogued 200 pieces of Crown Lynn and Titian with more to do, still have to do Rancich, Lissaman, Gardener and so on. Then there's a whole lot of folk art, kiwiana, naive art, artefacts, 40 odd pieces of Brickworks material, so 400 approx lots of Jim's personal stuff. Then there's the shop remnants whcih we think will be 100 box lots of miscellaneous stuff and 300 lots of individual items and small group lots. All up we think at best guess at this moment that there may be 800 lots. WE are planning a 10am start and think it will take 6 hours to sell the lot. Whew.. I'm tired just thinkiing about it.

I'm starting a bit of the photography next week so some shots hopefully will get posted soon.
Cheers, Rosco.

funho1 Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:00 pm

I'll start saving now ! Cheers Peter

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thanks 'Titian'

Re: Help decipher mark on Titian lamp

maybe it's just me but

Re: Help decipher mark on Titian lamp

Re: Help decipher mark on Titian lamp

Ralph Ratjen Rathjen...

lamp

Can't wait

Ross

Heaps to be sold

Thanks Ross

Re: Help decipher mark on Titian lamp