Carlton Ware Lightning Pattern Vase by Violet Elmer c1930

Scarce, hand-painted and stunning Art Deco Carlton Ware Lightning Pattern vase designed by Violet Elmer c1930 in VGC

11.5cm wide, 13.5cm tall

Violet Elmer (1907-1988) was a talented English ceramics designer whose work has often been overshadowed by more famous contemporaries like Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper, and Charlotte Rhead. Despite her relative obscurity, her contributions to the decorative arts during the period of 1928-1937 are noteworthy.

Born on March 29, 1907, in Grandpont, Oxford, Violet Elmer was the youngest of three children in the Elmer family. Her father worked as a letter carrier, providing her with a stable upbringing. Violet's journey from this modest background to becoming a significant artist and designer is remarkable.

Her early education included attending the Central Girls School in Oxford and later enrolling at the City of Oxford College of Technology in New Inn Hall Street. Her artistic talent became evident in her late teens when she won a National Arts Competition in 1924/5, showcasing her skills in still life, historic style, wallpaper, and carpet design. This success marked the beginning of her promising career.

A turning point came when an exhibition of her artwork was held in The Potteries, where her work caught the eye of Mr. F. C. Wiltshaw of Wiltshaw and Robinson's Carlton Ware Pottery in Stoke-upon-Trent. They expressed interest in acquiring her paintings, leading to her eventual position as a designer at the factory.
Though initially reluctant to leave Oxford for Stoke-on-Trent, Violet accepted the opportunity in 1928 and began working as a designer at Carlton China. Her desk, complete with paint pots, where she created her designs, remains preserved to this day.

Carlton Ware Pottery, established in 1890, was known for its diverse earthenware products and flourished under the Wiltshaw family's control from 1911 to 1966. Violet was not only a skilled artist but also a talented watercolorist, and her 1927 paintings hint at future ceramic designs.

During the Art Deco period, Carlton Ware employed three prominent designers: Enoch Boulton, Horace Wain, and Violet Elmer. Violet's best work emerged in the late 1920s and 1930s, particularly in the company's high-end "best ware" products. Her designs adorned various earthenware items, including ginger jars, vases, chargers, tea and coffee services. Despite the intricacy and costliness of her designs, the skilled workforce successfully brought her visions to life.

Unfortunately, it wasn't customary for designers at the pottery to sign their work, but pattern numbers and known dates can be used to attribute designs to Miss Elmer.
In 1938, Violet married schoolteacher Arthur Joseph Lawton, which marked the end of her professional design career. World War II brought significant changes, including restrictions on production due to manpower and material shortages, affecting the Copeland Street Works. Post-war, fashion and ceramics design shifted towards austerity, losing the quality and elegance of the earlier years.

After her design career, Violet, now Mrs. Lawton, and her husband stylishly decorated their home in Westlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme, where they lived for over four decades. They were well-regarded in their community, known for their love of children and involvement in charity work, as well as interests in rambling, drama, and gardening. Violet survived her husband by several years, passing away on March 8, 1988.
In summary, Violet Elmer's artistic legacy deserves recognition, as she was one of the finest designers of her time, leaving behind a lasting impact on the world of ceramics. Her artistry lives on as her unspoken obituary.