Terra Ceramics background...

**collectiques** Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:46 am

From a conversation I had with Ernie Cooper recently ...

Ernie Cooper formed a partnership with Furnace Engineering (a company owned by John Oortgeisen and John Homer) to purchase Terra Ceramics from the widow of Bernard Feigle.
Ernie had become familiar with the company while working for Gallard & Robinson in Sydney.
They produced elegant earthernware shapes with a Rockingham semitransparent glaze and black underglazed highlights. The company had established outlets in Australia which gave them immediate export markets.
Terra Ceramics worked out of the same premises that had previously been used by Kiln Kraft (Rosebank Road, Avondale). They employed 15 people, including 4 members of the Hemera family in various areas of manufacturing.
Local distribution was also set up using John Denton Pty Ltd, a distributor in Parnell.
The company suffered a major fire in 1985 and never fully recovered. Ernie sold his interests in Furnace Engineering and left the company in 1986. Products (mainly lamp bases) continued to be manfactured and the business ran as an extension of the hobby ceramics business of Furnace Engineering at their premises in New Lynn.

NB: Terra Ceramics background summarised and edited from an email written by Ernie Cooper - Thanks Ernie for your help - it's much appreciated

**collectiques** Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:51 am

Terra Ceramics example - kindly supplied by Ernie Cooper.

PS: Ernie Cooper was a cadet at Crown Lynn (1964), progressing to chief chemist and assistant factory manager (1972) before moving to Sydney to manage Gallard & Robinson Pty ( a Crown Lynn subsidary company)

glaze Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:51 pm

The Terra Ceramic address was 18 copsey place Avondale we had nothing to do with clay craft. When Ernie left, the company was relocated to Ward street New Lynn. The Manager was John Hommer . Johns mother was Sir Tom Clark sister.We produced lamp bases for Eunice Taylor Polygon and some hand painted ware some pieces HAND POTTED by Daniel Steenstra before his wife died.YES you have red that right biggest secret out there, Ask Rosemary Barnes our wage clerk.
PS Terra Ceramic was also Trugrit Ceramics.

**collectiques** Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:31 pm

glaze wrote:The Terra Ceramic address was 18 copsey place Avondale we had nothing to do with clay craft. When Ernie left, the company was relocated to Ward street New Lynn. The Manager was John Hommer . Johns mother was Sir Tom Clark sister.We produced lamp bases for Eunice Taylor Polygon and some hand painted ware some pieces HAND POTTED by Daniel Steenstra before his wife died.YES you have red that right biggest secret out there, Ask Rosemary Barnes our wage clerk.
PS Terra Ceramic was also Trugrit Ceramics.

Hi Glaze - interesting stuff. So were you one of the 15 people working at Terra Ceramics then? We'd love to hear any background - thanks for your input so far

I have also heard the Steenstra worked for Titian Potteries part time as well. Very Happy

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