McHugh Pottery
John McHugh founded the McHugh Pottery at Sandhill in Launceston, Tasmania in 1873. Under John the company produced bricks, pipes, tiles, flower pots and a variety of utilitarian pottery, including sanitary products and kitchenware. This production was unmarked so what pieces that have survived are very difficult to identify. In 1891 John passed his business on to his sons James and Hugh, in the following year (1892) John passed away. As the art in pottery is my principal interest I am not going to leave the early story of McHugh here.
From what I have been able to determine McHugh’s production of Art Ware (or “Fancy Ware” as it was called at McHugh) was over a very limited period. I have discussed this with Robert (the curator of the “Erin May Collection”), Andrew (the curator of “The McGowan Collection”) and Ross Pentreath. By looking at these collections we have determined that about one third of the examples in these collections are dated between 1933 and 1935. Ross tells me that he does have one pot dated 1932. It is our belief that McHugh only produced art ware between perhaps 1932 at the earliest and 1936 at the latest.
The pot above is dated 1938, this is quite crude in form and glaze and it really bears no resemblance to the McHugh production of the 1932 to 1936 period. Even the maker’s mark seems to be a rather rudimentary copy of the mark that was used just a few years earlier.
If the date on the base of this vase is correct I can only conclude that by 1938 McHugh had lost the ability to produce the quality of production they where producing between 1932 & 1936.
What sets McHugh’s production above that of their contemporaries (such as John Campbell Pty Ltd) are the impressive range of glaze colours that they employed. If you scan through the shapes below you will see the full majesty of their glazes. To me the outstanding examples of McHugh glazes are the three examples of shape 60 (see the the shapes by pattern number catogary further down the page).
It has always interested me that the colours and the “Drip Glaze” method employed by such Aussie companies such as McHugh, Campbell and Remeud is in the style of the Arts & Craft movement in Britain. In the UK this style of pottery had basically died out by the late 1920’s, here in Australia it had a life that went in the case of Remued right up until 1956. British manufacturers employing this style of production are C.H. Brannam Ltd of Bairnstaple in Devon (Jug above on right), Ruskin Pottery of Birmingham and Minton Hollins of Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire (twin handle vase above on left). What began in Britain as the dark subdued colours of the Edwardian era ended as bright and bold colours of Aussie Pottery.
There are three names that are associated with the McHugh’s Art Ware production. Henry Trevena was in charge of the manufacture of McHugh’s Art Ware. The thrower, glazier and mould maker Danny Beckett and the glazier Francis Manallack, both of whom had honed there skills in various potteries in Victoria. On page 103 of “The Pottries of Brunswick”, Gregory Hill talks about Francis Manallack and his time at McHugh. Greg says that it was Francis Manallack who was responsible for the cobalt glaze that was employed at McHugh to such a striking effect.
There are two styles labels used for the marking of McHugh Art Pottery, the first is a silver foil on brown paper and the second is a green and silver label
There is also a stamped under glaze mark that is occasionally used on the base of McHugh Pottery. It reads "H McHugh, Launceston". Geoff Ford dates this mark from 1926 to 1939, I have only ever seen one art ware pot with this mark, it is a fairly nondescript shape number 10.
The Shapes
Vase - Shape 1
 |  |
Left not dated - Right dated 1935
height 12.5 cm (5") tall
Vase - Shape 2
Left dated 1935 - Right dated 1934
height 10 cm (4")
Vase - Shape 3
Left not dated - Right dated 1934
height range from 15cm (6") to 20 cm (8")
Vase - Shape 4
Left not dated - Right dated 1934
height 11.5 cm (4.5")
Vase - Shape 5
Left not dated - Right dated 1935
height 13.5 cm (5.4")
Vase - Shape 6
Left dated 1933 - Right not dated
height range from 7.5 cm (3") to 13 cm (5.12")
Vase - Shape 7
Left not dated - right dated 1935
height 13 cm (5.12")
Vase - Shape 8
Left dated 1935 - right not dated
height 14 cm (5.5")
Vase - Shape 9
height 10 cm (4")
Vase - Shape 10
Left dated 1934 - right not dated
height range from 12.5 cm (5") to 17.5 cm (7")
Vase - Shape 11
height 10 cm (4")
Vase - Shape 12
height 8cm (3.12")
Vase - Shape 13
height 17.5 cm (7")
Shape 14
No example known!
Have you got an example of this Shape?
Bowl - Shape 15
height 7 cm (2.75")
Vase - Shape 16
Both examples are dated 1934
height 10 cm (4")
Vase - Shape 17
height 9cm (3.5")
Vase - Shape 18
Dated 1934
Height range from to 12.5 cm (5") to at least 15 cm (6")
Shape 18 is a very large shape, it has a larger girth than it does height. For instance the example from "The McGowan Collection" is 15 cm (6") tall and it has a diameter of 20 cm (8").
Flower Bowl - Shape 18
This Flower Bowl or Centre Piece is marked Shape 18, I have only seen one other example of this shape and it was not marked. Is the shape 18 number on the base of the Flower Bowl a factory mistake - I hope this will become clear if more examples come to light.
Vase - Shape 19
height 13 cm (5.12")
Bowl - Shape 20
Both are dated 1934
Height 6 cm (2.36")
Bowl - Shape 21
Height range 6 cm (2.37") to 9 cm (3.5")
Vase - Shape 22
Left dated 1933 - Right dated 1935
Height range 9.5 cm (3.5") up to 20 cm (8")
Vase - Shape 23
Left not dated - right dated 1933
Height range 12 cm (4.75") to 14 cm (5.5")
Vase - Shape 24
Height 11 cm (4.37")
Vase - Shape 25
Left dated 1935 - Right not dated
Height range 8cm (3.12") to 10 cm (4")
Vase - Shape 26
Height range 10 cm (4") to 12 cm (4.75")
Vase - Shape 27
Height range 9 cm (3.5") to 10 cm (4")
Vase - Shape 28
Left dated 1935 - Right not dated
Height 9cm (3.5")
Shape 29
No example known!
Have you got an example of this Shape?
Vase - Shape 30
Height 13.5 cm (5.37")
Vase - Shape 31A
height 23 cm (9.1")
Iteresting that this vase is marked 31A, has anybody ever seen another example of this shape or a Pot marked 31?
Vase - Shape 32
Dated 1933
Dated 1934
height 8.5 cm (3.37")
McHugh Ball Flower Aid (Frog) - Shape 33
height range from 6.5cm (2.5") to 9cm (3.5")
McHugh Jar & Cover - Shape34
left dated 1934 - right dated 1935
height 11 cm (4.37")
Grecian Urn - Shape 35
height 9.5 cm (3.75")
Image courtesy of Ross & Sharron Pentreath
Teapot - Shape 36
Have you got an example of this Shape?
Vase - Shape 37
height 22cm (8.75")
Sugar Bowl - Shape 37
Dated 1934
Dated 1935
height 8 cm (3.2")
Sugar Bowl with Lid - Shape 37
Dated 1934
There are 3 veriations of shape 37 - the first is a large twin handle vase. The second is a tri-handle pot which comes also with a lid. The curator of the "Erin May Collection" tells me that he has seen two examples of shape 37 with a lid. It could be argued that the lid comes from something else and that this shape does not have a lid - I will leave this argument until I have further information.
Vase - Shape 38
Both Vase are dated 1935
height 12.5cm (5")
Vase - Shape 38A
Height 20 cm (8")
Pin Dish - Shape 39
height 3 cm (1.25")
Ashtray - Shape 39
Shape 34 comes in two veriations, with cigarette rest or without.
Vase - Shape 40
left vase dated 1934 - right vase dated 1935
height 9cm (3.6")
Vase - Shape 41
Left not dated - Right dated 1934
height 14.5 cm (5.75")
Vase - Shape 42
Left not dated - Right dated 1934
height 13.5 cm (5.38")
height 30 cm (12")
Note the height veriation between these 3 vase, all have the same shape number but one is huge.
Vase - Shape 43
height 15 cm (6")
Vase - Shape 44
height 11.5 cm (4.5")
Vase - Shape 45
height 12.5 cm (5")
Vase - Shape 46
Left vase not dated - Right vase dated 1935
height 15cm (6")
Vase - Shape 47
height 20 cm (8")
Vase - Shape 48
height 23 cm (9.1")
Vase - Shape 49
height 20cm (8")
Trinket Bowl - Shape 50
height 7.5 cm (3")
Vase - Shape 51
height 15 cm (6")
Vase - Shape 52
left dated 1924 - right not dated
Height 20 cm (8")
Vase - Shape 53
Dated 1934
Height 30 cm (12")
Vase - Shape 54
Dated 1935
Height 17 cm (6.75")
Vase - Shape 54
height 26 cm (10.25")
Image courtesy of Ross & Sharron Pentreath
Note: There are two examples of pots marked as shape number 54, Ross says the number on the base of his is very clear. Is the mark on the base of one of these a mistake made at the time of production, I don't know. Does anybody else have an example ofeither of these shapes.
Flower Bowl with Flower - Aid Shape 55
Dated 1934
Height 5 cm (2"), diameter 28 cm (11")
Candle Stick - Shape 56
One of these was listed on eBay some time ago,
it was a tall candle holder similer in shape to vase 38
Have you got an example of this Shape?
Candle Stick - Shape 57
On of these was listed on eBay some time ago,
it was a candle holder with a handle for carring it
Have you got an example of this Shape?
Shape 58
No example known!
Have you got an example of this Shape?
Shape 59
No example known!
Have you got an example of this Shape?
Cylinder Vase - Shape 60
Height ranges from 20 cm (8") to 36 cm (14")
Shape 61
height 12.5cm (5")
Image courtesy of Bernie Gallagher
Vase - Shape 62
height 15cm (6")
Image
Vase - Shape 63
height 9cm (3.5")
Vase - Shape 64
height 10 cm (4")
Vase - Shape 65
height 15 cm (6")
Vase - Shape 66
height 16 cm (6.3")
Vase - Shape 67
height 13.5 cm (5.32")
Vase - Shape 69
height 13.5 cm (5.25")
Jardiniere - Shape 75
height 16.5 cm (6.5")
diameter 21 cm (8.25")
Vase - Shape 76
height 19.5 cm (7.7")
Image courtesy of Ross & Sharron Pentreath
Deco Handle Pitcher - 96A
height 25 cm (10")
The example have pictured here does not have a shape number, but Paul McHugh tells me that he has an example fo this shape and that it is clearly marked 96A
Speicmen Vase
height 9 cm (3.5")
This wee pot may have a number on the base, it is hard to make out but I feel it could be 29 - can anybody confirm this.
Jardiniere
dated 1935
height 18.5 cm (7.25")
Planter
height 16 cm (6.25")
This is an unusual shape, it almost appears to be a pot sitting in a saucer, but it is all on piece.
Posy Ring or Wreath
height 5 cm (2") & diameter 17cm (6.75")
Flower Aid or Frog
height 6 cm (2.37")
Trough with Original Wire Flower Aid
27 cm (10.6") long and 10 cm (4") tall
Flower Bowl with Flower Aid Lid
or Centre Piece
height 12.5 cm (5") and 20 cm (8") diameter
The Erin May Collection has an example of this shaped marked 18.
Tall Flower Bowl with Flower Aid Lid
or Tall Centre Piece
height 18 cm (7")
Wall Pocket- Bulbous Base
height 15 cm (6')
Wall Pocket - Flat Base
height 15 cm (6")
Image courtesy of Ross & Sharron Pentreath
There is at least one other wall pocket shape, but at this stage I do not have a photo of it.
Creamer 1/4 Pint
Creamer 1/2 Pint
Cramer 3/4 Pint
Each of the three creamers above where clearly marked to the base with their size. I have made them 3 different sizes to representive of eacks capacity, this is not an accurate depiction of each of the sizes.
Tobacco Jar or Humidor
height 11 cm (4.4")
Minature Potty - A Salesman Sample
height 4.5 cm (1.25")
Leaf Shaped Pin Dish
Coffee Mug
height 11 cm (4.32")
Character Jug or Toby Jug
Dog Door Stop
33 cm (13") long
These seated dogs come in at least 4 colourways - I would love to have examples of the other to colour-ways.