This article on Bakewells Pottery tries to cover off the History of Bakewell Brothers Sydney, their Product Range, and Prices and Availability of their products to the best of my knowledge. I would love to hear your comments, or any knowledge you can add.
This was my first article for the website. I collect Blue & White striped Bakewell’s Pottery bowls and jugs myself, so it was an easy choice. When I started to research the article I found lots of information and pictures on the internet but there was no one source that had all the information I would have liked to see. So I have pulled information together from the sources and added my own insights and photos. I have updated this article regularly to reflect information from new sources (including people and books).
Earthenware Transfer Crockery (ref 3) with Flannel Flowers c1914
Bakewell Pottery operated in Erskineville Sydney NSW Australia from 1884-1955.
“Bakewell Brothers Ltd was established by William Bakewell, born in England in Nottingham county, who began making bricks and pipes on the Erskineville site in around 1884. The firm gradually developed to include the manufacture of tiles, pots, jars and other domestic and commercial wares.” (ref 3) Unusual items produced included medical items like inhalers and urinals. They also produced some tourist wares and terracotta busts (including Cpt James Cook).
They started to make domestic pottery early in the 1890s.
All early marks feature the name ‘Bakewell’. Later ink-stamped marks are ‘Beulah Ware’, ‘Newtone Art Ware’ or ‘Trent Art Ware’. Stickers were also use on some pieces. Not all pieces are marked. (ref 1)
I believe that all Bakewell Pottery pieces are considered collectable. The most sought after are hand-painted Newtone pots signed by Daisy Merton (see picture above). In Mar 2019 I saw one go on eBay for ~$480. I have also become aware of a rare Trent Art Ware ‘Art Deco’ Tea Set (ref 5) that commands an even higher price tag (see picture above). You could start your own collection for as little as $20 just by watching out at local charity stores and trash and treasure markets.
Bakewells Small Teapot
Common Bakewells Ink Stamp
Round Ink Stamp (source lost)
Product Range for the Bakewell Pottery
“In 1891 the Bakewell Pottery started to produce domestic pottery including a wide range of Bristol and cane ware.” Bristol Ware is hard paste white porcelain and Cane Ware is buff or tan coloured stoneware. This range included chamber pots in white and pastels.
“From 1905 to 1914 they produced earthenware table and toilet wares decorated with transfer designs.” (ref 2) (see jug picture above). “Some had Australian flowers, but more were thoroughly English in patterns. The earliest group printed in green or sepia is not usually marked – except sometimes for the pattern name and no more.” (ref 5) The range included dinner plates, jugs, large lidded tureens and sauce tureens with ladle and stand.
Beulah Ware appeared about 1925 and was produced until about 1939 (ref 7). This range included casserole dishes (see picture below), a 5 piece canister set (see picture below), and pastel graduated jugs with raised lines (like those on the canisters) and elegant handles. Some of the canister sets are marked Beulah Ware and some are marked only with the standard Bakewell’s ink stamp. The canisters came in pastels (lemon, butter, light blue, turquoise, light green, grey) and darker colours (mid-green, maroon).
In March 2017, M. Wadey the great-grand-daughter of William Bakewell was kind enough to send me a photo of her prized piece of Beulah Ware, a blue lidded casserole dish (see photo below). Her grand-mother’s name was Beulah. I have never seen another piece like it or another piece with the same Beulah Ware ink stamp.
Beulah Ware Lidded Casserole
Beulah Ware Ink Stamp
Beulah Ware Canister
Beulah Ware Canister Set (ref 3)
Beulah Ware Pressed Mark
The Bakewell Pottery started to produce under the name Newtone Art Ware in the 1930s and continued till the late 1940s (ref 6). A large range of decorative vases was produced in a great variety of shapes and colour-ways. Most of the pieces I have seen appear to be slipware with hand applied glazes, including drip-glazing. Some glazed vases and jugs had embossed gum leaves and kookaburras. In addition to vases, the Newtone range included basket vases, shoe shaped vases, mugs, wall pockets and footed bowls.
Newtone also included hand-painted pieces with Australian flowers and scenery. Some vases with bush scenes, kookaburras and wild flowers (pictured at top) were painted by Mrs Daisy Victoria Merton (DV Merton) and some were signed (see photo below). Newtone also included figurines of kookaburras on stumps, serviette rings and ashtrays, and figurines of koalas on branches. The kookaburra figurines were painted by a Miss Mitchell but not signed. Joy Yasman did sign her kookaburras (ref 5) and also some vases. Painted wares continued briefly after 1945 and include small dishes in the shape of Australia (ref 5).
Newtone also included the Pontiac Tea Set (pictured at top of article) which had strong Art Deco styling. I have seen pictures of this tea set in bright green, brown and cream shaded, light green, and blue on a black tray. I picked up the same tea set (unmarked) in burgundy and gold, see Pontiac Tea Set
Newtone Sticker
Newtone Ink Stamp 1
Newtone Ink Stamp 2
DV Merton signed
Joy Yasman signed
Newtone Art Ware Vases
Newtone Art Ware Float Bowl
Newtone Art Ware Vase
Newtone Art Ware Blue & Yellow Collection
Small Newtone Vase – Bargain Find
Bakewells Newtone Ashtray
Most of the later Trent Art Ware range produced from around 1950 does not appear to me to be very different from the Newtone pieces. The range also included gum leaf wall vases, basket vases and jugs with raised gum leaves.
An exception is the range of pieces produced after 1955 by a former Bakewell’s employee. Norman Nathan Hielman (1895-1969) who produced pieces in a ‘little factory’ above his garage in Bexley. These sometimes had the ‘Trent Art Ware’ sticker or were incised by hand with ‘TRENT Sydney’ or ‘Bexley’ and with a number. These pieces were often hand-painted, although his grand-daughter in a comment to this page said ‘he did lovely glazes’ too.
Trent Stamp
Trent Sticker
‘Trent Sydney’ Incised Mark
Trent Art Ware Vases #478
Trent Art Ware Vase #384
Bakewell’s Hecla Kettle
From what I have seen, Bakewell Pottery don’t seem to have been following rules about which ink stamp or product range name they used on their items. I say this because I have decorative pieces that are the same colour-ways and are marked differently, and pieces that are the same shape that are marked differently.
There was also a range of glazed stoneware electric jug bodies for Hecla (see photo above) and ashtrays marked with the common Bakewell’s ink stamp.
Bakewells Pottery also produced a large range of glazed earthenware kitchen pottery that goes largely unmentioned in the texts I have read, and yet forms a significant volume of the collectable stock and photos on line. I am, of course, talking about the striped and plain bowls, jugs, teapots and coffee pots that were used in earnest in most homes in Australia from the 1930s. These high utility items appear to be consistently labelled with the common Bakewell’s ink stamp. This range also included white plates.
I am curious to know which colours and styles of the kitchen pottery are oldest, but have not found a good reference for this yet.
Green Striped Bowl Set (largest with pouring lip)
Common Bakewell’s Ink Stamp
Blue Striped Jugs and Bowls
Green Striped Jug
The striped bowls and jugs came in both green and blue, but the exact colour of the glaze and the clay used varies, so it can be a challenge to put together a tidy set from individually found pieces. I believe that there are 3 different sizes in the jugs and 6 different sizes in the bowls with the largest having a pouring lip.
I did own a full set of green striped bowls for a while (see photo above), but when I decided to focus on blue striped, I let them go (from the Robertson Shop) reportedly, to a descendant of the Bakewell’s family. I think that this was very good Karma.
Blue Pin-Striped
The pinstriped blue bowls are my favourite, but I haven’t seen enough of them to know all the sizes and shapes. Most of these items have the common ink stamp (see picture above) but the round jug (centre of picture) is marked ‘REGO 1460S’ only.
Pastel ‘stubby’ Jugs + Horizontal lined jug
Pastel Blue Graduated ‘stubby’ Jugs
Bakewell’s Art Deco Jug (vert. lines)
Bakewell’s Pottery produced pastel jugs in several different designs and sizes, and a range colours.
The stubby jugs (pictured above) come in off-white, light blue, lemon, green (also lemon with a green edge) and have 4 sizes. I have recently added the light blue ones to my collection.
The odd blue jug with the horizontal lines (pictured above with the stubby jugs) also comes in other colours too.
There is an Art Deco styled jug (pictured above) with sets of 5 graduated vertical lines on the side (like the canisters), and another with a recessed handle (see unbranded below).
Bakewells Pudding Bowl – Bargain Find
The pastel bowls made at the Bakewell Pottery came in a couple of styles and a range of colours also. I have had many different sized off-white pudding bowls through my hands and have also seen these in lemon. Additionally I have had lemon mixing bowls with a pouring lip in 2 sizes and I have seen the same thing in lemon with a green top edge and I think also in plain green.
The MAAS(ref 3) has a 3 piece nesting mixing bowls in saffron from 1950.
Teapots were also made, like the small white one pictured at the beginning of this article, but also in pastels like the stubby jugs and the MAAS collection includes a multi-colour pot. I have seen pictures of several sizes including a taller ‘coffee’ pot.
Unbranded Bakewell Pottery
Bakewell also produced unbranded items and items just with stickers (which would wear off). Some unbranded items jugs are pictured below.
The two fridge jugs pictured below were found the at separate markets and they are unbranded. A member of the Bakewell family with the same jug in green, which she calls a ‘fridge jug’, was able to confirm that these were Bakewell jugs. The painting on the smaller jug is under the glaze and signed on the base “Else”.
The unbranded ‘banded’ milk jugs, I have had in my collection for years. Each of these has some damage but I hung onto them because I liked them. It turns out that these are accepted Bakewell jugs too. The largest is 18cm tall.
Also in my collection for about 30 years is the large blue bread crock pictured below (sadly no lid). I have never seen another like it and am going to go out on a limb and claim it to be a Bakewell item because it is so like my pinstripe bowls (above).
Bakewells Fridge Jugs – Bargain Finds
Bakewells Hand-painted Jug
Milk Jugs unbranded (banded)
Bakewells Bread Crock 37cm
A few of my pieces have impressed shape numbers on them. I found a ‘Bakewell Brothers’ Pinterest Board (https://www.pinterest.com.au/bakewellb/boards/) that has over 150 photos of Bakewell items with their shape numbers. I checked these against the few numbered items that I have and they match. Their ‘All Pins’ page also has hundreds of photos of Bakewell items. If you are trying to determine if an unbranded item is Bakewell’s, these pages may be helpful.
Posy Ring Vase Shape # ‘519’
Impressed Shape # ‘519’
Bargain Finds
Jun 2022: A 22 cm blue hand painted vase Newtone Artware “Bakewell Brothers” attributed to Daisy Merton (a bargain, see photo above).
Aug 2020: A 15 cm off-white “Bakewell Brothers” pudding bowl at a local charity store for $3.
Mar 2019: A 10 cm dark blue “Newtone” drip-glazed vase at my local Trash & Treasure market for 50c (see photo above). It does have a star crack in the base.
Jul 2018: Another unbranded Fridge Jug. This time a small cream hand-painted one at a market for $4 (see photo above).
Oct 2017: A 15 cm light blue “Bakewell Brothers” pudding bowl at my local Trash & Treasure market for $1 (see photo above).
May 2017: A large medium blue unbranded Fridge Jug at a market for $4. It was a year before I found out it was made by Bakewell’s (see photo above).
Prices and Availability (Mar 2019)
When collecting only you can decide how much you really want to pay for a piece. You may be quite happy to pay the going ‘shop’ rate for a piece you have been looking for for a long time, or if it is the missing piece from your collection.
If you want to find the decorative pieces of Newtone or Trent in your chosen colour-ways, I think you can still pay reasonable prices on eBay. Most op-shops know their pottery/china brands and will price them up even if they are chipped, but you can still get lucky, even though I can’t recall picking up a piece in the last year. Every few months I see or buy a piece for $5-$20 at a second-hand market.
30 years ago when I first started collecting Bakewells bowls and jugs, I could pick up a piece every few months for around $5. I slowly got rid of the damaged pieces and unwanted colours and refined my collection to the pieces I like most. These days I occasionally see an off-white pudding bowl at a market, but can only think of picking up one coloured jug at a bargain price in the last year.
Clearly people are more educated about the desirability of these items. The minimum price for a coloured bowl or jug appears to be about $20 (eBay, op-shop, market or vintage store) and the most I have seen for a large striped jug is $120 (vintage store). The $120 jug was excessive in my view and you should be able to pick up undamaged items for $20-$50 each if you are prepared to spend the time hunting.
NB: I have not mentioned Garage Sales, as I have not been going to them regularly for years.
References
‘Australian Artware Pottery’, William & Dorothy Hall, 1996, Crown Castleton Publishers, Australia
“Australian Domestic Pottery – A Collector’s Guide”, William & Dorothy Hall, 1992, Kangaroo Press, Australia
My mother was Beulah Bakewell, the grand-daughter of William Bakewell and I am pleased to say I actually have a blue Casserole Dish with Beulah Ware underneath it is my treasured possession. They do exist.
Thank you for posting a comment on my article. It is so nice to hear of somebody else saving things from their families past… it is not so common these days. And what a fabulous connection with the Bakewell family to have, and such a rare item. regards Cheryl
M.Wadey the great-grand-daughter of William Bakewell was kind enough to send me a photo of her prized piece of Beulah Ware. Her grand-mothers name was Beulah. This sounds like more than a co-incidence to me. See picture of the blue lidded casserole dish and backstamp above in the article.
Sadly, since writing this article I have not purchased any Bakewells items to add to my collection. I have seen may desirable pieces in antique stores but none has either been a bargain or filled a gap in my collection. I will keep searching.
Hi Cheryl, I have a set of four canisters, the same one as in your photo with the kitchen utensils, purchased in New Zealand around 30 years ago. Sadly my Flour canister recently came to grief on the kitchen floor and I am now making it my life work to find a replacement (actually I just need the bottom piece, as the lid somehow survived in tact! I do love my canisters! Any suggestions?
Hello Sara, what a coincidence. I still have the pictured canister (no lid) and I do not have any other matching pieces. Is your set yellow? Are you interested in buying my flour canister base? I would love to help you complete/repair your set. Cheryl
I have just found a 5 set of green glaze Beulah canisters. The back stamp is faded and impossible to read. how would I go about authenticating these? They are stunning.
With thanks in great anticipation.
Hi I have a mixing bowl that probably belonged to my Great Grandmother, it’s stamped Bakewell Sydney on the underside. It’s cracked and I don’t use very often, but what’s amusing is the thumbprint when someone has put into the kiln for firing. I really should not be using it I suppose, but I love it including the thumbprint.
Nice to hear from you Susan. I believe that we should use our old items because that is what they were made for, and they can connect us, in a small way, to the people who used them before us. Cheryl
Thanks for the article. I have just walked past a pile do household items and a little yellow Bakewell jug was sitting on top in Enfield.I had no idea what it was but knew it was lovely designed piece. Treasures are still out there. Cheers Jude.
Hi, I picked up 4 bakewells mugs, stamped to the bottom “made by Bakewells Sydney NSW” one faded the other 3 are clear. On the side of them is stamped “Bonox is Better” in a Sheild pattern. Could you tell me anything about them at all?
HI. FYI, TRENT ARTWARE WAS MADE BY MY GRANDFATHER, NORMAN HIELMAN, AT HIS LITTLE FACTORY IN BEXLEY SYDNEY. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT BAKEWELLS.
DURING THE DEPRESSION HE ALSO MADE POKERWORK.
I HAVE HAPPY MEMORIES OF CLIMBING THE STAIRS TO THE FACTORY, AND I CAN STILL SMELL THE WET POTTERY SMELL IF I TRY! SOME OF HIS WORK WAS GREAT, SOME LESS SO, BUT HE DID LOVELY GLAZES
My Grandfather was William Bakewell my Father was Tom Bakewell the last owner of Bakewell Bro’s My Aunt was Beulah and she also had four daughters one of whom she named Beulah I remember my Father selling the mounds from Bakewell Bro’s to Newtons and Plates that was when I was really young I think a lot of people would not know that the factory also made bricks, chimney stacks and terracotta water pipes I still see a lot of Bakewell Bro’s tiles up here in North Queensland in Service station rest rooms and around public pool
Hello Lee, fantastic to hear from you.
Thank you for visiting my website and for sharing your family history and Bakewells memories.
It does not surprise me that molds were sold to other companies as I have seen many pieces of the same shape with different brands on them.
regards Cheryl
Hello Cheryl. Is this site still active? I hope so. My husband is the grandson of Christopher Joseph Bakewell. They look very alike from photographs we have. We have acquired a reasonable collection of Bakewell pieces.
Hello Lynn, yes the site is still active. I have had some technical problems updating my site and have not had time to solve them yet. It is always nice to hear from fellow collectors, especially when they are part of the Bakewell family. I would love to see photos of your collection if you have them. If you want to send photos or talk more you can send email to …. Regards Cheryl
Greetings, many thanks for the detailed information on this site regarding Bakewell’s which in my view still holds it own in terms of design and quality after many years. About 25 years ago I found a complete set of Beulah Ware Cannisters (Butter) in Canberra whilst visiting family. Arrived home safely in overhead locker on the plane !! A couple of years ago I found another complete set (pale green) online in a small coastal town in NSW . The set was a wedding gift for the sellers grandmother back in the day. Collection only of course…..but after a few emails managed to have it sent down to Victoria safely via Australia Post. Not a collector of ceramics generally, but the design is a classic and my interests are varied on objects and household items made during the “Art Deco” period. Cheers Terry
Great to hear from you Terry. I have never bought/owned a full set of the Beulah canisters – lucky you. I love Art Deco items too (Art Nouveau, Mid Century Modern, the list goes on). How to get fragile (and often heavy and bulky) treasures back home safely when on holiday is always a challenge. I like to go for driving holidays now so that I can stop at every opportunity (shop) and fill the back seat with treasure. Happy treasure hunting. Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
Thank you for posting this, as I have had very little knowledge of Bakewell ceramics until recently. I have recently purchased a full set of what looks like bakewell beulah kitchen canisters they are incredibly heavy, but I’m unsure as to their authenticity as they all have no marks/stamps on them, I was wondering if they could be reproductions? Any info would be gratefully received.
Hello Melissa. Congratulations on your purchase. Bakewell’s did not mark all of their pottery, especially the earlier pieces. I am not surprised that your canisters are not marked. I am also not aware of any fake Bakewell’s items in the marketplace. Although early Bakewell items are becoming highly collectible in Australia, I doubt it would be commercially viable to produce fakes. I will send you my private email so that you can send photos if you would like my opinion on your canisters.
I have a stamped Bakewell Sydney white bowl with pouring lip, pattern on sides in good condition.
We believe owned by our grandmother. Interested in history and found your website very good..
I am interested also of it’s value and read where they end up in op shops for a few dollars. I do not wish this to be offloaded or binned when I am in care.
I understand your situation. I have bowls that belonged to my grandmother too, and am concerned where they will go when I am gone. One idea is to do an inventory of your treasured/best items so that your family can identify/save them.
Most single Bakewell bowls are valued at between $20-$50. If the bowl is large and/or there is no damage it could be worth more. If it is a rare or unusual item it could be worth more too. Did you say that it had a pattern on the side… could it be hand-painted? I would love to see a photo of your item.
A rare item could be put into a specialty pottery auction or donated to a Museum. The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney (MAAS) has Bakewell items in it’s collection.
regards Cheryl
Hi,
I purchased a Bakewell Beulah blue casserole dish in my local charity store today (same as pictured in your article).
I would be very interested in a value for my records/inventory, if you would be able to help me with an idea that would be awesome.
Your article contained the only photo I have been able to find so far online.
Many thanks for your informative article..
Amanda
Congratulations on your find. I have never seen another either and would be totally chuffed if I found one. If I had one I would keep it too. I am not a qualified valuer and I don’t have a subscription to the sale prices on any of the auction sites, but I would value it over $200 based on its rarity alone. Happy bargain hunting and collecting.
Hi, l have just rescued a Newtone pottery rectangular planter box at the tip,
Blue and rusty brown drip/slip glazing. It’s gorgeous!
Could only make out half the stamp, but thanks to your awesome article,
I now know everything about it.
Cheers Terry
Hi, great to read this article. My great-aunt is Annmarie Bakewell – Tom Bakewell’s daughter – so it has been great to hear the history of the Bakewell Brothers thank you. Unfortunately I don’t have any pieces but would love to acquire one some day.
Hello Louise. Your bowl was most likely produced in the 1930s, but could have been as late as 1950. I have not found any Bakewell’s catalogues and only have the sources listed in my article to go on, and not many of those have dated items. The pastels, including lemon were popular through the 1930s and 40s. I hope this helps. regards Cheryl
Hello Jeanne. Great story. You have purchased a nice little bit of Australian history. I had to look up Tailem Bend. I have not been there, but I have been close by at Lake Alexandrina S.A. Cheers, Cheryl
Prices asked for teapots and coffee pots vary greatly from $100-$400. I did a quick search and found one eBay item number:384890128298. Is it like yours?
I have not seen this shape before, but from the colour and shape, my best guess it that it is from the mid 1930s.
Cheryl,
Your Bakewell article is very informative.
I purchased a Bakewell blue pinstripe mixing bowl at a Brighton, SA trash and treasure sale about 20 years ago. It is in perfect condition.
It was one of the items I brought back to the US after my twenty year stay in Australia.
I am downsizing and want to find a home for the bowl with someone who appreciates the Bakewell provenance.
When I read that the blue pinstripe design was your favourite, I wanted to offer it to you.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Judy
Hello Judy and thank you for the post.
I am so pleased that you love your Bakewell’s pinstripe bowl and have kept it for so long. Thank yo also for considering me as a home for this treasure. I will send you a private message. regards Cheryl
Dear Cheryl,
I am so excited – I too have a blue and white striped bread crock, and would really love to send you a picture. It does have a lid, but it had two big chunks out of it when I received it, and so I got it extensively repaired. Not as round nor smooth a bread crock as yours. Darker blue. I will re-check it, but I think that it has no marking. I received it as a present, purchased from a junky second hand shop in Yarrawonga Victoria over 30 years ago. I would really appreciate your opinion. Regards.
Hi Cheryl, I think I may have a Bakewell bread crock as well. I found it recently half buried in soil and foliage under an old and shattered glasshouse at my mother’s house (previously my grandmother’s house). I instantly remembered it from my childhood and am sure it used to have a lid. It is very slightly different from your pic but the same distinctive pinstripe, colour and shape. I cannot make out any backstamp which is why I’ve been searching the internet for similar….and now I know!!! Michelle
Congratulations Michelle, what a fantastic discovery and you even got to do a little archaeology.. I am so envious.
I purchased my bread crock in an antiques shed near Goulburn about 30 years ago and use it for potatoes in my pantry cupboard.
Large bread crocks were hand turned on a wheel so you would not expect them to be exactly the same size.
If yours is the same colour and shape, it is almost certain to be the same maker as mine (presumably Bakewell’s).
I have also searched online and have found no others like it, and given the weight of these items, it is unlikely that they were imported.
regards Cheryl
Hi Cheryl.
In.sorting through my mums house I’ve rescued what I think may be an item produced by Norman Nathan Hielman with the words Trent Artware Bexley handpainted on the bottom. Its a handless jug or vase. It looks nothing like any of the photos above though so I would love to get your opinion on it.
Hello Michelle. Isn’t is great to ‘find’ something interesting. I have never seen one of these pieces in person. I have certainly never seen one for sale, so I am unsure as to values. All the information that I have is from his granddaughter Christine. I would love to see photos of the vase and the base markings, and will send you a private msg. Regards Cheryl
On holiday in Tailem Bend .While in Tin Elephant I spotted a vase in bush colour drip glaze I liked..Taking it back to England Enjoyed your article and finding out about Trent ware. 10 dollars but bought as it appealed to me. 41 to home to 8c Jeanne
Hello Jeanne, great to hear from you. I have not been to Tailem Bend, but I hope to go that way on a road trip next year. I hope I find a bargain in the Tin Elephant too. Cheers Cheryl
Dear Cheryl,
I have just finished this article and what a lovely piece of history it is. Thank you so much for your diligence and love of valuable things (treasures).
I am writing to see if you could tell me the value of the aforementioned Casserole Dish signed with Beulah Ware. I have an identical one to the light blue one you show above, my one is in excellent condition; it is a dark teal green colour with the exact same markings underneath shown in your article. I want to put it on ebay. So, if you could advise me, I would appreciate it. The one you show is the only other one I have ever seen before, so, they appear to be indeed quiet rare.
All the best Greg Wilding
Hello Greg. Thank you for your kind comments. I just like to share what I have learnt. It would be nice if someone with a Bakewell collection bought your casserole dish. I am not in any way a qualified valuer. Values for kitchenware are very difficult. An item may be highly collectible without being very valuable. I saw a complete set of Bakewell canisters go for $150 when I thought they were worth at least $400. Also, I have placed Bakewell items on eBay and waited more than 12 months before a buyer came along who wanted my item and agreed to my price. I would not like to guess for your item. Apologies Cheryl
Great article and lovely photos!
Thanks Alex. Please visit CCs Retro again.
My mother was Beulah Bakewell, the grand-daughter of William Bakewell and I am pleased to say I actually have a blue Casserole Dish with Beulah Ware underneath it is my treasured possession. They do exist.
Thank you for posting a comment on my article. It is so nice to hear of somebody else saving things from their families past… it is not so common these days. And what a fabulous connection with the Bakewell family to have, and such a rare item. regards Cheryl
M.Wadey the great-grand-daughter of William Bakewell was kind enough to send me a photo of her prized piece of Beulah Ware. Her grand-mothers name was Beulah. This sounds like more than a co-incidence to me. See picture of the blue lidded casserole dish and backstamp above in the article.
Sadly, since writing this article I have not purchased any Bakewells items to add to my collection. I have seen may desirable pieces in antique stores but none has either been a bargain or filled a gap in my collection. I will keep searching.
Hi Cheryl, I have a set of four canisters, the same one as in your photo with the kitchen utensils, purchased in New Zealand around 30 years ago. Sadly my Flour canister recently came to grief on the kitchen floor and I am now making it my life work to find a replacement (actually I just need the bottom piece, as the lid somehow survived in tact! I do love my canisters! Any suggestions?
Hello Sara, what a coincidence. I still have the pictured canister (no lid) and I do not have any other matching pieces. Is your set yellow? Are you interested in buying my flour canister base? I would love to help you complete/repair your set. Cheryl
How bizarre! It is indeed yellow! And yes, I would be interested in buying your flour canister base.
Today I bought a Bakewells Bowl in Blue for $1. it is getting harder and harder to find a bargain but your next bargain is out there waiting for you.
I have just found a 5 set of green glaze Beulah canisters. The back stamp is faded and impossible to read. how would I go about authenticating these? They are stunning.
With thanks in great anticipation.
Congratulations,
I may be able to help. Could you please send me a photo of the canisters and the back stamp. regards Cheryl
Hi I have a mixing bowl that probably belonged to my Great Grandmother, it’s stamped Bakewell Sydney on the underside. It’s cracked and I don’t use very often, but what’s amusing is the thumbprint when someone has put into the kiln for firing. I really should not be using it I suppose, but I love it including the thumbprint.
Nice to hear from you Susan. I believe that we should use our old items because that is what they were made for, and they can connect us, in a small way, to the people who used them before us. Cheryl
Thanks for the article. I have just walked past a pile do household items and a little yellow Bakewell jug was sitting on top in Enfield.I had no idea what it was but knew it was lovely designed piece. Treasures are still out there. Cheers Jude.
‘Hey Jude’ (bet you get that all the time)
Thanks for the great feedback and congratulations on your little Bakewells treasure. Cheryl
Hi, I picked up 4 bakewells mugs, stamped to the bottom “made by Bakewells Sydney NSW” one faded the other 3 are clear. On the side of them is stamped “Bonox is Better” in a Sheild pattern. Could you tell me anything about them at all?
Hello Peter. I haven’t seen this item before. The internet is great, but unless you know what to search for, information often remains hidden. Your mugs are almost certainly made on the 1930s-40s. I have included 3 web addresses for you (that you may not have found) but they don’t offer much info. I would think that as a set of 4 they would be worth >$100. Wembley (Aust) also made Bonox Mugs.
https://ehive.com/collections/5831/objects/524184/mug
https://imged.com/1930-s-australian-pottery-advertising-bonox-is-better-mug-bakewells-sydney-no3-12768640.html
http://mount-waverley.australialisted.com/3149/hobbies-collectors/australian-made-mugs_17317374.html
regards
Cheryl
HI. FYI, TRENT ARTWARE WAS MADE BY MY GRANDFATHER, NORMAN HIELMAN, AT HIS LITTLE FACTORY IN BEXLEY SYDNEY. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT BAKEWELLS.
DURING THE DEPRESSION HE ALSO MADE POKERWORK.
I HAVE HAPPY MEMORIES OF CLIMBING THE STAIRS TO THE FACTORY, AND I CAN STILL SMELL THE WET POTTERY SMELL IF I TRY! SOME OF HIS WORK WAS GREAT, SOME LESS SO, BUT HE DID LOVELY GLAZES
Hello Christine,
thank you for the information.
I had not heard of your Grandfather, but quickly found several references to him on the internet.
I will include them here in case you have not seen them.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16944944?searchTerm=australac&searchLimits=#pstart1153333
https://collection.maas.museum/object/422060.
It seems that he started the Australac Pottery in Chippendale in the 1930s.
Bakewells were in business until 1955.
Did he have his Bexley pottery during the 1950s when he was in his 60s?
regards
Cheryl
My Grandfather was William Bakewell my Father was Tom Bakewell the last owner of Bakewell Bro’s My Aunt was Beulah and she also had four daughters one of whom she named Beulah I remember my Father selling the mounds from Bakewell Bro’s to Newtons and Plates that was when I was really young I think a lot of people would not know that the factory also made bricks, chimney stacks and terracotta water pipes I still see a lot of Bakewell Bro’s tiles up here in North Queensland in Service station rest rooms and around public pool
Hello Lee, fantastic to hear from you.
Thank you for visiting my website and for sharing your family history and Bakewells memories.
It does not surprise me that molds were sold to other companies as I have seen many pieces of the same shape with different brands on them.
regards Cheryl
Hello Cheryl. Is this site still active? I hope so. My husband is the grandson of Christopher Joseph Bakewell. They look very alike from photographs we have. We have acquired a reasonable collection of Bakewell pieces.
Hello Lynn, yes the site is still active. I have had some technical problems updating my site and have not had time to solve them yet. It is always nice to hear from fellow collectors, especially when they are part of the Bakewell family. I would love to see photos of your collection if you have them. If you want to send photos or talk more you can send email to …. Regards Cheryl
Lovely and informative piece.
Bakewells made an electric jug which is known today as the Petal jug.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/144029554743?hash=item2188d49837:g:chEAAOSwzh1gkfwD&frcectupt=true
An earlier jug was
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/264909338154?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-159824-816807-4&mkcid=2&itemid=264909338154&targetid=4585307089680259&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=398426086&mkgroupid=1307319575782075&rlsatarget=pla-4585307089680259&abcId=9300412&merchantid=136820&msclkid=80c22fa8a99110fc228c4f3c3ceb8e0c
Both links are ebay listing – pictures will not last for long
Thank you Brabs. When I get over the technical difficulties I am having, I will add this info to my article. Cheers Cheryl
Greetings, many thanks for the detailed information on this site regarding Bakewell’s which in my view still holds it own in terms of design and quality after many years. About 25 years ago I found a complete set of Beulah Ware Cannisters (Butter) in Canberra whilst visiting family. Arrived home safely in overhead locker on the plane !! A couple of years ago I found another complete set (pale green) online in a small coastal town in NSW . The set was a wedding gift for the sellers grandmother back in the day. Collection only of course…..but after a few emails managed to have it sent down to Victoria safely via Australia Post. Not a collector of ceramics generally, but the design is a classic and my interests are varied on objects and household items made during the “Art Deco” period. Cheers Terry
Great to hear from you Terry. I have never bought/owned a full set of the Beulah canisters – lucky you. I love Art Deco items too (Art Nouveau, Mid Century Modern, the list goes on). How to get fragile (and often heavy and bulky) treasures back home safely when on holiday is always a challenge. I like to go for driving holidays now so that I can stop at every opportunity (shop) and fill the back seat with treasure. Happy treasure hunting. Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
Thank you for posting this, as I have had very little knowledge of Bakewell ceramics until recently. I have recently purchased a full set of what looks like bakewell beulah kitchen canisters they are incredibly heavy, but I’m unsure as to their authenticity as they all have no marks/stamps on them, I was wondering if they could be reproductions? Any info would be gratefully received.
Hello Melissa. Congratulations on your purchase. Bakewell’s did not mark all of their pottery, especially the earlier pieces. I am not surprised that your canisters are not marked. I am also not aware of any fake Bakewell’s items in the marketplace. Although early Bakewell items are becoming highly collectible in Australia, I doubt it would be commercially viable to produce fakes. I will send you my private email so that you can send photos if you would like my opinion on your canisters.
I have a stamped Bakewell Sydney white bowl with pouring lip, pattern on sides in good condition.
We believe owned by our grandmother. Interested in history and found your website very good..
I am interested also of it’s value and read where they end up in op shops for a few dollars. I do not wish this to be offloaded or binned when I am in care.
I understand your situation. I have bowls that belonged to my grandmother too, and am concerned where they will go when I am gone. One idea is to do an inventory of your treasured/best items so that your family can identify/save them.
Most single Bakewell bowls are valued at between $20-$50. If the bowl is large and/or there is no damage it could be worth more. If it is a rare or unusual item it could be worth more too. Did you say that it had a pattern on the side… could it be hand-painted? I would love to see a photo of your item.
A rare item could be put into a specialty pottery auction or donated to a Museum. The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney (MAAS) has Bakewell items in it’s collection.
regards Cheryl
Hi,
I purchased a Bakewell Beulah blue casserole dish in my local charity store today (same as pictured in your article).
I would be very interested in a value for my records/inventory, if you would be able to help me with an idea that would be awesome.
Your article contained the only photo I have been able to find so far online.
Many thanks for your informative article..
Amanda
Congratulations on your find. I have never seen another either and would be totally chuffed if I found one. If I had one I would keep it too. I am not a qualified valuer and I don’t have a subscription to the sale prices on any of the auction sites, but I would value it over $200 based on its rarity alone. Happy bargain hunting and collecting.
Hi, l have just rescued a Newtone pottery rectangular planter box at the tip,
Blue and rusty brown drip/slip glazing. It’s gorgeous!
Could only make out half the stamp, but thanks to your awesome article,
I now know everything about it.
Cheers Terry
Congratulations on your find, Terry, and you are very welcome. Glad I could help.
Hi, great to read this article. My great-aunt is Annmarie Bakewell – Tom Bakewell’s daughter – so it has been great to hear the history of the Bakewell Brothers thank you. Unfortunately I don’t have any pieces but would love to acquire one some day.
thanks
Kerry
Lovely to hear from you Kerry.
I have a Bakewell mixing bowl in lemon. I’d love to know how old it is. I used it only this morning.
Hello Louise. Your bowl was most likely produced in the 1930s, but could have been as late as 1950. I have not found any Bakewell’s catalogues and only have the sources listed in my article to go on, and not many of those have dated items. The pastels, including lemon were popular through the 1930s and 40s. I hope this helps. regards Cheryl
Thank you. It’s lemon. Does the Bakewells ink stamp give a clue? Same as the stamp next to the small teapot at the top of this page.
Hello Jeanne. Great story. You have purchased a nice little bit of Australian history. I had to look up Tailem Bend. I have not been there, but I have been close by at Lake Alexandrina S.A. Cheers, Cheryl
MADE BY BAKEWELLE SYDNEY N.S.W. Could you please give me approx. age, and value. It has a nice glaze to it and no damage at all. Many thanks.
Hi, It appears I lost the most important start of my message. I own a light green mottly coloured coffee pot.
Prices asked for teapots and coffee pots vary greatly from $100-$400. I did a quick search and found one eBay item number:384890128298. Is it like yours?
I have not seen this shape before, but from the colour and shape, my best guess it that it is from the mid 1930s.
Cheryl,
Your Bakewell article is very informative.
I purchased a Bakewell blue pinstripe mixing bowl at a Brighton, SA trash and treasure sale about 20 years ago. It is in perfect condition.
It was one of the items I brought back to the US after my twenty year stay in Australia.
I am downsizing and want to find a home for the bowl with someone who appreciates the Bakewell provenance.
When I read that the blue pinstripe design was your favourite, I wanted to offer it to you.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Judy
Hello Judy and thank you for the post.
I am so pleased that you love your Bakewell’s pinstripe bowl and have kept it for so long. Thank yo also for considering me as a home for this treasure. I will send you a private message. regards Cheryl
Dear Cheryl,
I am so excited – I too have a blue and white striped bread crock, and would really love to send you a picture. It does have a lid, but it had two big chunks out of it when I received it, and so I got it extensively repaired. Not as round nor smooth a bread crock as yours. Darker blue. I will re-check it, but I think that it has no marking. I received it as a present, purchased from a junky second hand shop in Yarrawonga Victoria over 30 years ago. I would really appreciate your opinion. Regards.
Hello Allison. Your bread crock sounds very interesting. I would love to see photos. I will send you a private msg. Cheryl
Hi Cheryl, I think I may have a Bakewell bread crock as well. I found it recently half buried in soil and foliage under an old and shattered glasshouse at my mother’s house (previously my grandmother’s house). I instantly remembered it from my childhood and am sure it used to have a lid. It is very slightly different from your pic but the same distinctive pinstripe, colour and shape. I cannot make out any backstamp which is why I’ve been searching the internet for similar….and now I know!!! Michelle
Congratulations Michelle, what a fantastic discovery and you even got to do a little archaeology.. I am so envious.
I purchased my bread crock in an antiques shed near Goulburn about 30 years ago and use it for potatoes in my pantry cupboard.
Large bread crocks were hand turned on a wheel so you would not expect them to be exactly the same size.
If yours is the same colour and shape, it is almost certain to be the same maker as mine (presumably Bakewell’s).
I have also searched online and have found no others like it, and given the weight of these items, it is unlikely that they were imported.
regards Cheryl
Hi Cheryl.
In.sorting through my mums house I’ve rescued what I think may be an item produced by Norman Nathan Hielman with the words Trent Artware Bexley handpainted on the bottom. Its a handless jug or vase. It looks nothing like any of the photos above though so I would love to get your opinion on it.
Hello Michelle. Isn’t is great to ‘find’ something interesting. I have never seen one of these pieces in person. I have certainly never seen one for sale, so I am unsure as to values. All the information that I have is from his granddaughter Christine. I would love to see photos of the vase and the base markings, and will send you a private msg. Regards Cheryl
On holiday in Tailem Bend .While in Tin Elephant I spotted a vase in bush colour drip glaze I liked..Taking it back to England Enjoyed your article and finding out about Trent ware. 10 dollars but bought as it appealed to me. 41 to home to 8c Jeanne
Hello Jeanne, great to hear from you. I have not been to Tailem Bend, but I hope to go that way on a road trip next year. I hope I find a bargain in the Tin Elephant too. Cheers Cheryl
Dear Cheryl,
I have just finished this article and what a lovely piece of history it is. Thank you so much for your diligence and love of valuable things (treasures).
I am writing to see if you could tell me the value of the aforementioned Casserole Dish signed with Beulah Ware. I have an identical one to the light blue one you show above, my one is in excellent condition; it is a dark teal green colour with the exact same markings underneath shown in your article. I want to put it on ebay. So, if you could advise me, I would appreciate it. The one you show is the only other one I have ever seen before, so, they appear to be indeed quiet rare.
All the best Greg Wilding
Hello Greg. Thank you for your kind comments. I just like to share what I have learnt. It would be nice if someone with a Bakewell collection bought your casserole dish. I am not in any way a qualified valuer. Values for kitchenware are very difficult. An item may be highly collectible without being very valuable. I saw a complete set of Bakewell canisters go for $150 when I thought they were worth at least $400. Also, I have placed Bakewell items on eBay and waited more than 12 months before a buyer came along who wanted my item and agreed to my price. I would not like to guess for your item. Apologies Cheryl