Essexware was produced by English migrants, Gordon and Irene Dunstan at Gladstone Road, Leura in the Blue Mountains for a period of four years in the early to mid 1950s. This would explain why you, as a resident of Leura, have a number of examples. The name Essexware was coined from Essex, the English county of origin of Irene Dunstan. By 1955 the Dunstans were employing 14 people, one of whom, Tom Alban, was an artist who signed his name on many items. They are popular collectables because of the Aboriginal themes and designs which were made before the appropriation of the style of other cultures was rightly criticised, and illegal in the case of outright copying. The Dunstans were both inspired and copied original artwork from the Melbourne WardÂ?s Museum of Natural History at Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains. The interest at that time in Aboriginal motifs was said to have been limited until their extensive use in street decorations during the 1954 tour of Australia by Queen Elizabeth II; after which there was a surge of enthusiasm satisfied by the likes of companies such as Essexware.



Sources: Home Beautiful November 1955; Roman Black, Â?Old and New Australian Aboriginal ArtÂ? (Sydney 1964)

Mug, 'Essexware', earthenware, with Aboriginal decoration, Leura, NSW, 1950's

Made: 1950 - 1959

90/333

1950 - 1959

121 mm

12 mm

7 mm