TOPIC:

Neville, It seems that on your Elliot pots the B.P. logo is a separately moulded item which was stuck on wet clay, sometimes off centre. Anyway, directly after the war the Rooinek potters producing jingo items faced the same problem as the US Arms industry when the Berlin wall was hacked into souvenir pieces: No enemy to write badly about. However, instead of reverting to purveying useful dinner table crockery which could be thrown at the cheating party during an acrimonious divorce, they started to produce a spade of "Aren't we all glad it's over" items. One example, a coffee cup produced by one J.M. combines the commemoration of the coronation of King Edward VII and the fact that Boer and Brit were suddenly friends. There must have been a plate with it but some owner over the past century must have had rowdy kids and/or a cluster of domestic animals.

Fascinating thread!
This tradition of eccentric pottery with political slogans continues to the day, see;
ancienttofuture.com/wp-content/uploads/2...ase-culture_gp11.jpg

When it comes to political caricatures, these are my absolute favourites. "Brer Kruger" and "Brer Chamberlain" were modelled by C.H. Brannam, of Royal Barum Ware, Barnstaple, and were based on a drawing by Francis Carruthers Gould, which appeared in the Westminster Gazette on 20 July 1899. Although one cannot see it in this photograph, Chamberlain is about to play the ace, which he holds in his right hand. Both signed: "C.H. Brannam / Barum / 1899".






Brannam also used the two caricatures to decorate this magnificent charger. Base again signed "C.H. Brannam / Barum / 1899".







"Brer Rabbit Plays a Card", by F. Carruthers Gould, Westminster Gazette, 20 July 1899




North Devon Journal, 12th October 1899

Mr C.H. Brannam, of Litchdon Street, Barnstaple, is producing in his famous Royal Barum Ware some “topical” pieces from designs drawn by Mr F. Carruthers Gould, the well-known caricaturist. A couple of specimens likely to attract special interest just now are splendid caricatures of President Kruger and Mr Chamberlain.


North Devon Journal, 21st December 1899

Mr C.H. Brannam, of the Royal Art Pottery, Litchdon Street, is showing some charming novelties in his wonderful Ware. The newest colouring effects are in emerald green, Mr Brannam’s latest creation having caused quite a sensation in the trade. For depth of colour and brilliance of glaze the emerald green is unequalled. Then a feature is made of bird vases from drawings by F. Carruthers Gould, the famous caricaturist, who is a native of Barnstaple, and of “caricatures of the day” in Mr Gould’s inimitable style. The figures of Mr Chamberlain and President Kruger as Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit respectively were recently warmly praised in the Westminster Gazette. Most artistic additions to table decorations have been made, while there are vases for the dining and drawing room in endless variety. There are many beautiful specimens of jardinière and pedestal in studio style to be seen in the show rooms, while there is an enormous collection of miscellaneous articles suitable for presents. It may be mentioned that during the summer Mr Brannam was honoured with a repeat visit from H.R.H. Prince Albrecht of Prussia – a unique event in the history of pottery in North Devon and a splendid tribute to the artistic attractiveness of the celebrated Royal Barum Ware.





.. Boer war pottery, Boer war china, boer war ceramics, boer war porcelain

I've just come across this short article, which appeared in the Westminster Gazette on 24 November 1899. It is interesting to note that the pair of figures originally cost 5s 6d (including postage). According to the online Historic Inflation Calculator, this equates to roughly £40 in 2024.






Westminster Gazette, 24th November 1899

BRER FOX AND BRER RABBIT.

The two figures of Mr Chamberlain as Brer Fox and President Kruger as Brer Rabbit which have figured so often in our cartoon and political Uncle Remus stories have been modelled by Mr Brannam, of the Royal Barum Pottery Works at Barnstaple, in a very successful manner. We give sketches of the two engaged in playing a game of “kyards”, and Mr Brannam, who has sent us specimens of his work, tells us that he can send the pair by parcel post for 5s 6d, in case any of our readers who have followed the prolonged struggle between Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit in our columns should wish to procure them as mementos of the Transvaal question.




Here is one of Carruthers Gould's original pen and ink drawings of "Brer Kruger", published in the Westminster Gazette on 9 September 1899.



TANSVAAL. A firm but friendly pressure. Mr Chamberlain and Sir Alfred Milner bringing a firm but friendly pressure to bear upon President Kruger. Aug 1899 (in Gould's hand).

Published caption: "SQUEALING AND SQUEEZING. MR CHAMBERLAIN AND SIR ALFRED MILNER: Why do you keep on squealing 'Suzerainty'? BRER RABBIT: I can't stop squealing, you squeeze me so hard!".


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A few further examples of the output of C.H. Brannam's Royal Barum Pottery Works, Barnstaple. The Kruger jug, like the figures above, was based on a caricature by Carruthers Gould, while the tyg and pitchers at the bottom carry verses from Kipling's "The Absent-Minded Beggar".

Kruger jugs signed: "C.H. Brannam / Barum / N. Devon" or "C.H. Brannam / Barum 1900".
Pitchers and tyg signed: "C.H. Brannam / Barum 1900".































.. Boer war pottery, Boer war china, boer war ceramics, boer war porcelain

Neville, absolutely amazing collection! I figure that if the Empire had sent his army of potters to the front it would have shortened the war by at least a year as the Burgers would have been too busy trying to decipher all that waffle on these jugs to shoot straight. I am about to run out of breakables to contribute to this thread. This item is one of my favourites though, with great, expressive, detail. I have seen pairs of these but unfortunately this British Bulldog has to hunt Boers on its own.