Jan Lewis came from England to Australia after having been formally trained in ceramics. Initially she taught and lectured in the craft of ceramic design and manufacture, then had a short stint at Broomhill Pottery as a thrower before starting up her own business in 1983. She called her business Table Top Ceramics and many pieces can be found with backstamps referring to Table Top and Jan Lewis. However she also designed and produced ceramics for her clients, one client was Bessemer, the well known table ware and home decor company.

This vase is one of those pieces, designed and made for Bessemer but with her name clearly stamped (printed with no glaze)

The design is one of the bush, a subject that Jan Lewis used widely, specifically gum leaves but not bold clearly defined graphics. These graphics are more akin to an abstract design (just look at the design and maintain the look for a while and you will see the gum leaves!)

JAN LEWIS - Bessemer vase

Jan Lewis (Table Top Ceramics) designed and manufactured this vase for her client, Bessemer

Circa 1980's

Style: some might call this a bud vase with a gourd likeness

Ceramic

Design/pattern: long neck vase with gumleave's (abstract) as decoration

Blended "impressionist like" design colouring ranging from a 'stone grey' to green's, brown's, blue's and touches of light pink around the lower section of the bulbous base, rising to an off white colouring to the top.

Tall thin stemmed vase suited to a single short stem with a flower, a bud vase.

Hand decorated

All over glaze, inside and out EXCEPT the base underside.

BACKSTAMP DETAILS:

Black printed backstamp

BESSEMER

Jan Lewis

Australia

DIMENSIONS:

Height: 195mm (almost 8 inches)

Diameter: 80mm (widest at the base) & 35mm top lip

Top opening is just 15mm diameter