Early Australian Bonsai pots #1 Ellis Ceramics

[lindsay farr]

By the 1960's a market for Bonsai pots emerged in Melbourne.
Ellis Ceramics manufactured slip cast pots in a range of shapes and sizes.

Here's a catalogue of the original range drawn and notated by Max Leversha circa 1964

ellis1.JPG

ellis2.JPG

ellis3.JPG

Here's an example of a surviving Ellis pot

ellispot.JPG

Cheers
Lindsay

[Jow]

Were these signed? I have seen a few of these pots and most seem to only have a mold no. on the bottom.....

[Steven]

Antonio (Anttal63) recently purchased a heap of Ellis pots and posted pictures of them here. Click here to visit his post.

Regards,
Steven

[lindsay farr]

That's right Jow, the Ellis pots were marked by model number.
The number was indented in the mould. I'll take some pics and post them.
Cheers
Lindsay

[RuthMcL]

I have a number of Ellis pots given to me by Shirley McLachlan shortly before she died in 1996. Shirley thought that these pots were significant as some of the earliest bonsai pots made in Australia. All have 'Ellis' plus a number on the bottom, except the round pot which has a number only but does match one of Max Leversha's diagrams and has the same green glaze as two other pots.

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Ellis_pot_green.JPG

VON_pot.JPG

[Scott Roxburgh]

I really like the single green pot Grevillea!

The glaze is awesome and the upward curving lines make it that little bit different.

I would love to see what tree you paired it up with.

[RuthMcL]

Hi Scott,

Here is the Full view of the dwarf Babingtonia virgata

Babingtonia virgata.JPG

[Amanda]

Oooh that's nice, Grevillea.

[lindsay farr]

Lovely pots. Classic Ellis. Very collectable.
VON is a mystery to me. At first thought, I considered that it may be an ELLIS workers signature. The clay body on that pot is red coloured and Ellis hated tinted clays as the stained the moulds.
Now I'm wondering about VON.
Cheers
Lindsay

[Corymbia]

I think you might find the "VON" pot was made by a lady by the name of Von Potter who in the early days (1970s) was a member of the Bonsai Society of Australia and later moved to the north coast of NSW (I think maybe Coffs Harbour). I know she made small pots and I also have one of hers.

Jan

[nick-laing]

I just purchased a pot signed Ellis on the bottom from a lady over in Preston(Melbourne) I was searching high and low for information regarding their bonsai pots, but all I could find was information regarding there earthenware and jugs. When in doubt go to the forums.....

Pot.jpg

Pot.jpg

[MattA]

I just purchased a pot signed Ellis on the bottom from a lady over in Preston(Melbourne) I was searching high and low for information regarding their bonsai pots, but all I could find was information regarding there earthenware and jugs. When in doubt go to the forums.....

hey Nick,

I cant help you with any information on the pot. I am hoping you might be able to tell me where you found info on Ellis earthenware & jugs, I bought a vase recently signed Ellis EX1 that i have not been able to find anything on.

Matt

[nick-laing]

Hi Matt,

Just general info, hope it helps.

http://australianpottery.wordpress.com/ ... -ceramics/

[bonsai orphan]

"Von" miniture bonsai pots i believe were rare one offs made in the 1970's. Am keen to find out anything anyone know's about them.