Being a sociologist with a great interest in material culture, craft and design, but little cash to spare, I am grateful for Melbourne trendy (or not) op shops. Here I have recently discovered pewter art. The first piece I have found, pictured on the right, is by an Australian woman called June Calcutt. June worked in Melbourne along with Brian Calcutt back in the 1960s. The other pieces, also by the same artist, turned up subsequently. I felt then 'compelled' to add more pewter to this collection with this top Pocket Flask by Charles Rennie Mackintosh (eBay).
Since then I have been researching modern pewter art in Melbourne and elsewhere. Little is said about June (feel free to contact me if you have any information) but this is how I came across the work of Max Lamb which I would like to share with you today.
I recently picked up a napkin ring (at least I think that's what it's for) from a garage sale. I just seemed drawn to it, and liked the design and the way it felt when I was holding it. It has a signature of June Calcutt on the inside in script. I also went to look her up, but couldn't find anything, any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting...is the napkin ring made of pewter too? There isn't much out there about June, all I know is what her daughter has told and what's written in my blog.
ReplyDeleteTh actual napkin ring is made from pewter and has a darker pewter pattern crossing around it and on the inside is her signature...no date, but it looks like late 60's style to me.
ReplyDeleteHi, I have collected many of her pieces over time. There was once more information available online. I will try and find the links. It is great work, quite underestimated.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, thank you. Have you made any pic of your collection? If so I'd love to see them. I don t if you have been to the St Kilda's Bazaar in Melbourne but I have found a few pieces there recently, a set of goblets with the same design as the largest place pictured in this post. Do you collect mostly pewter or...?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post!
40 years ago my cousin-in-law went to Australia to study aboriginal dance for her masters degree. While there she sent me a pewter tray which I have used many times. Today I dug around in my cabinets to find it for my granddaughter who is studying Australia for a schoolwide project. I looked up the name handwritten on the back, Junie Calcutt, and here I am!! The tray is even more of a treasure to me now. CWM
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. Send us a picture when you find the tray, I'd love to see it and to put it on the blog;)
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DeleteI don't do attachments very well as I am not computer literate, bI will try to send a photo for the June Calcutt plate discussed in our recent conversation.CWM
ReplyDeleteI look forward to receiving it;)
DeleteOur cousin, originally from Dallas, Texas, and the giver of this tray, is now a permanent resident of E. Brunswick, Victoria. Please let me know if you have not received the photo in a reasonable length of time from today, Sunday,Jan. 15. Carma Marks, Montgomery, Alabama
DeleteOld Curiosity. I have tried everything I know to send you the photo of my June Calcutt tray with no success. I am determined to give it one more try. Are you open to receiving the photo by email? Let me know at cwmarks23@gmail.com. CWM
ReplyDeleteWe too are interested in finding out anything about June Calcutt - as we have just bought two large pewter bowls from an antiques auction. They were filthy and have come up beautifully and we are delighted with them although they are for resale through Birdwoods Gallery, Havelock North, New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteHello, I just picked up two beautiful pewter goblets that I found on the back of an op shop shelf on the Mornington Peninsula, I was also drawn to them and had to have them, I was cleaning them at home and discovered Jane Calcutt ingraved on the bottom and the beginning of my research lead me here. No date, just her name, Australia and Peweter I intend to find out more about her and will let you know what I find, if anything. I do know that several of her peices are up for auction at various auction houses. And that her work is beautiful and I love it !
ReplyDeleteI am June Calcutt's eldest daughter. First, she did not work with Brian Calcutt, who is a cousin of my father's. June worked alone in a little workshop under our house in Mount Waverley, ably helped in the polishing department by Dawn Robins. Mum worked in the pewter medium in the 1960s and early 1970s. She also painted, potted, enamelled and etched copper and in later years, quilted. She could cook roast beef and bombe alaska together! The pewter was imported from England in later years and has the maximum amount of lead without being toxic (then!). It is very soft and napkin rings and bracelets will ultimately break if bent. To clean, use steel wool (NOT CURLY GIRLS) and warm soapy water. Clean in the direction of the design to avoid scratchy appearance. My name is Josephine Perry and I live in McCrae, Victoria
ReplyDeleteJust found a small square dish or pewter coaster signed Jane Calcutt. Lovely design.
DeleteJune remarried in 1981 and returned to live in Waikanae, New Zealand, where she died in 1986.
ReplyDeleteJune remarried in 1981 and returned to live in Waikanae, New Zealand, where she died in 1986.
ReplyDeletehank you for your comment Josephine.
ReplyDeleteI volunteer in a charity shop in West Sussex UK and we have a bangle inscribed with Junie Calcutt and Australia which looks very similar to some of the dishes I have seen online. Thanks for this brilliant info. We would like to sell the bangle to raise funds for our charity, do you think we should take it to auction? Suzie Harvey
ReplyDeleteBrian Calcutt (1906-1989) was also involved in pottery. He won the Crown Lynn Design award in Auckland, 1960. He apparently also worked as a commercial artist in the 1950s as well as actually designing pieces for Crown Lynn in the late 1950s. He stated his nationality as New Zealand and yet there is no birth record nor electoral records which leads me to believe that Brian was not his birth name or that he was never a NZer. In 1960 he divorced his wife Helena and the following year left New Zealand for Sydney with someone named Mrs. Bona Lorriane Calcutt (Australia, 1925) who was 19 years his junior , likely a much younger second wife. Electoral records from Australia indicate that he seems to have lived in VIC for the majority of his life which accounts for the anomalies and missing information.
ReplyDeleteGreat biographical newspaper story here:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-metal-engraving-from-a-book-t/159593117/
The same newsapers in 1971 references a Dorothy June Calcutt, also of Mt Waverley. Perhaps Josephine could clarify for us if this was her mum's full name?