Mandicrafts News & Views - Teddy Bears & Collectibles: Earth Park - White Oak - Woodside - Wyatt Studio Potteries Canada

Canadian Studio Potteries - Earth Park, White Oak, Woodside Gallery & Wyatt - 20th in Canadiana Series

Earth Park Pottery was a local artist's studio located in Baysville on Earth Park Rd in Ontario, Canada, a small town near Huntsville (Muskoka cottage country) in the 1990's. Potter Ken Hoeght produced some gorgeous Art Pottery pieces in his trademark brown and light blue swirl pattern, the matte finish almost like a salt glaze (slightly rough to the touch).

A pair of milk or maple syrup jugs, no handles, in his trademark swirl pattern, the interiors glazed a dark brown and also rimming the exterior top spout area asymmetrically to catch any drips so they are easy to wipe off.

Instead of marking/signing the base of his work, he stamped the bottom rim edge with "Earth Park Pottery Baysville ONT". A signature that can be easy to miss with a cursory glance.

The brown glossy glaze is applied over the matte salt-like finish matte decor.

Sadly, the Studio closed in the late 1990's and Mr Hoeght moved to Yellowknife, Yukon where it is not known if he continued with his pottery creations.

A unique lamp base by Earth Park Pottery, with hand painted dark brown glaze trees added on top of the swirl pattern.

Wonderful decor item for a cottage or country retreat!

A studio for which little information is available, is White Oak Pottery Canada. From what I've been able to uncover, White Oak began as a studio/curio shop in Oakville, Ontario Canada by owner Ottelie Book. Her daughter Sharon Secord along with her husband John took over the business in the early 1970's and began designing and making pottery on their farm in Acton, Ontario. They found their niche in supplying items to various Canadian breweries (Molsons/Labatt), liquor companies (Seagrams) and retail stores (Birks, Eatons, Sears, The Bay, Simpsons) for about a decade and even expanded into the USA manufacturing under the White Oak label until the early 1980's.

In the 1970's you may have found yourself enjoying a coffee in a White Oak Pottery mug in your local coffee shop!

These mugs are marked on the base "CANADA 0116" and the creamer jug is marked "White Oak Canada". When matching pieces are separated it becomes difficult to attribute a pottery with only a mold number to go by.

Some pieces may retain their original silver foil oak leaf shaped label saying "White Oak Canada" but those finds are rare.

Example of the label as shown on the Canadian Design Resource.

In the late 1980's John and Sharon Secord began a new venture using all the knowledge they'd gained in making molds for pottery, called Masterline Molds, selling the molds to other companies who produce pottery, soaps and many other mediums. White Oak Pottery Canada had come to an end.

Woodside Pottery was established in Craighurst, Ontario Canada in 1980 when Hartley Woodside leased an old historic schoolhouse built in 1878 and set up his pottery and showroom. When he became owner of the building and property he expanded to include a local Gallery showcasing other local artists as well as his own pottery creations. Craighurst is located in Horseshoe Valley between Barrie and Orillia and The Woodside Pottery and Gallery has become a local tourist site and landmark. The Gallery hosts exhibitions and the Showroom includes items of many different types.

Besides Art Pottery, Woodside also makes practical high-fired stoneware dinnerware in made-to-order designs and styles, and offers a Wedding Registry service.

An example of Woodside Pottery, a creamer and sugar bowl set.

Marked with a simple "W" stamped into the base edge, and "Canada Craighurst" stamped below on the base.

Wyatt Art Pottery began operations in 1947 by Herbert R Wyatt and was continued by sons Robert and Jerry. Located in Burlington, Ontario, Canada the pottery changed hands in September 2001.

A popular glaze used by Wyatt, a caramel chocolate drip swirl, is featured on may different pottery items including ashtrays, serving plates and bowls, and on this small Mod Retro candy dish in a free form shape.

Reminiscent of Blue Mountain Pottery styling and drip pattern, the glaze colouring is completely original.

The original silver and black foil label identifies this dish as Wyatt Art Pottery and its location.

Incised on the base is only "W 23 Canada" making identification difficult without the presence of the label. Being able to recognize the glaze is helpful in identification of many vaguely marked Art Pottery items.

*Some items shown above can be viewed/purchased at Mandicrafts*

Happy Hunting!

Bear Hugs

Mandy

A Proud Member of the GPSA