Arthur Holland ceramics go under hammer

Ceramics by Hanley-born Arthur Holland — who painted Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Vase in 1953 — are being auctioned by his grandchildren on 12th July at Potteries Auctions, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Born in 1896 in Hanley, to Mary Holland and pottery polisher Arthur Thompson Holland, Arthur was a talented child who left school at 13 and was taken under the wing of Josiah Wedgwood as an apprentice at his Etruria factory. At the same time, he undertook studies at Burslem and Stoke Art Schools.

His time at Wedgwood was disrupted by World War I. From January 1915 until late 1919, he served as a sergeant with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, City of London Regiment. He was injured on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and was awarded a Bronze War and Victory Medal.

After the war, Holland returned to Wedgwood and worked as a decorator and artist until 1935. When Wedgwood announced a move to Barlaston, Holland left. He did not want to make the daily train journey. He subsequently joined Empire Porcelain as an artist until 1937.

After leaving Empire Porcelain, Holland joined Bell Pottery in Hanley, Trent, before re-joining Wedgwood between 1941 and 1944. This time, he worked under the direction of John Goodwin and Victor Skellern.

A short but productive stay at Paragon China in Longton followed until he joined Minton and Company in 1947. He remained here until his retirement in 1961.

During his time at Minton, he trained other ceramic artists such as Roger A Shufflebotham. Holland was regularly called on to display his skills to visitors to the factory, including Princess Margaret, and film stars such as Margaret Lockwood.

His expertise was further celebrated at Minton with several important commissions, including painting the Royal Cypher and the beasts on the coronation vase.

This was presented to the Queen in July 1954 by the British Pottery Manufacturers Federation. At the time, the vase was known as “the most complicated piece of bone china ever created”. Eleven copies were made and presented to the Commonwealth Countries. An original is held by the city council in Stoke-on-Trent Town Hall.

Holland’s youngest son had three children, Catherine, Thomas, and Mary. They lived near their grandfather in Penkhull in the 1970s. Each inherited his hand-painted china from various family sources. After realising they had many duplicate designs, they decided to consign them.

Pieces are estimated at £40-£200.

The sale takes place on 12th July at Potteries Auctions, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Viewing on 9th-10th July. Call 01782 638 100 for information.