WHY IN DESIGN: Straight from Australia, Wembley Ware Ceramic fulfilles my Lobster Fixation

Why In Design:

The Why and Back-Story of Wembley Ware. 

 For years now, friends we host in our beach home in East Hampton have come to know how much I love iconic lobsters.  I love them adorned on my vintage dishes and accessories.  Many guests bring me little lobster as a hostess gift.  For our 20th year anniversary we spent on Martha's Vineyard to remember our wedding on this special island, we picked up a gorgeousbowl in a tiny antique shop in Menemsha.   I was drawn to the large red lobster handle on top of the bowl.  I later found out it was the famous Wembley Ware, so my love for this ceramic began.  

These cute creations are straight from Perth, Australia and were produced by H.L. Brisbane and Wunderlich Ltd. -- a premier manufacturer of baked clay tiles and earthenware from the years 1946-1961.  This mid-century ceramic maker was fascinated with flora and fauna, and all creatures in between, and of course the lobster.  They made lobster plates, bowls, vases, ash trays and more. 

When the factory opened, they lured skilled craftsmen from England to this small community, and they utilized local clay from Goomalling and Kalamunda, sand from Lake Gnangara and feldspar from Coolgardie.  Check out the Wembley Ware website and organization. 

Today, it is sold all over the world, and now it's fairly easy to find these gems on etsy and other antique website portals.  There is usually a factory mark printed or pressed into the base of the piece, making it easily identifiable. As Wikipedia, refers to it this "decorative crockery" is relatively affordable too, so collect away!

Happy Nesting

XO Tamara