Robert Wallace Martin Very Early Mustard Pot

Description

Early R.W. Martin Salt-Glazed Mustard Pot (April 1874)

This historically significant salt-glazed mustard pot, measuring 9cm in height and width, represents a rare early work by Robert Wallace Martin. Dated to April 1874, the piece features a squat, bulbous body transitioning to a structured neck and a domed lid with a sculpted finial. It retains its original pewter metal hinge mount, complete with a traditional spoon aperture.

The vessel is heavily decorated, utilizing a deep cobalt blue glaze that contrasts sharply with the textured buff stoneware ground. The exterior displays a vigorous, deeply incised pattern of stylized foliate and fern-like motifs around the lower body. This is complemented by a continuous band of repeating wavy arches at the neck and radiating petal designs upon the lid.

The underside bears the clear, incised signature “R W Martin”, alongside the pattern code “A36” and the date “4-74”, firmly placing its production in the pivotal early months of Wallace’s independent career.

Condition & Restoration Opportunity: While the main body, metal mount, and lid present strongly, the angular handle has sustained four breaks and currently exhibits old, crude adhesive repairs. This presents an excellent, straightforward project for a professional ceramic restorer or a dedicated collector. Once sympathetically restored, this piece will stand as a highly displayable and historically important 1870s artifact.

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The Early Martin Brothers Pottery

Before establishing the legendary Southall pottery in 1877 alongside his brothers Walter, Charles, and Edwin, Robert Wallace Martin operated independently. In 1873, he set up a small studio at Pomona House in Fulham, London. During this crucial nascent period (1873–1877), Wallace exclusively signed his works “R W Martin” rather than the later, more common “Martin Bros.”

His output from this era is characterized by robustly potted stoneware featuring intricate sgraffito, deeply incised Gothic-Revival motifs, and rich cobalt salt-glaze finishes. These early 1870s vessels are highly prized by serious collectors today, as they represent the foundational aesthetic and technical experimentations that would ultimately propel the Martin Brothers to the forefront of the British Art Pottery movement.

Many Martin Brothers pieces are on display at the V&A museum, including this one below that is virtually the same (also 1907) to this superb piece: