Majestic Swans - Crown Lynn

Majestic Swans - Crown Lynn; 18th September - 14th October 2012

Majestic Swans – Crown Lynn
from the Portage Ceramics Trust’s Richard Quinn Collection
Lopdell House Gallery – Off-site @ New Lynn – 18 Sept-14 Oct 2012

This first display in our new window project space celebrates the proud ceramic heritage of New Lynn with a collection of Crown Lynn swans. These figurative vases came into production in 1948, not long after Tom Clark renamed his Ambrico pottery ‘Crown Lynn’ – ‘Crown’ for its association with England and connotations of quality, and ‘Lynn’ for the suburb of New Lynn where the pottery was sited. During the 1950s and 60s the iconic vases became a very popular feature on tables and shelves around New Zealand.

The Crown Lynn swans were modelled from examples brought back from England by Tom Clark in 1945 by young Elam graduate David Jenkin. Jenkin went on to head the design department at Crown Lynn for over thirty years, creating and overseeing a wide range of iconic domestic designs.

Lopdell House Gallery will be off-site in New Lynn for two years [2013 / 2014] while the historic building is seismically strengthened and the new gallery is built. Our new home during this time is 5 Totara Avenue, New Lynn – right next to Ceramco House on Todd Triangle. From here we plan to deliver a range of art events and opportunities for artists and the public to engage in. Some of the programme will be at different locations around the city but our window project space will be on view 24 hours a day.

We’re aiming to present a stimulating, thought provoking, inspiring series of projects changing on a monthly basis. Some may have a social history context [drawing upon the local Crown Lynn ceramic heritage for example] while others may feature new media contemporary arts or involve sculptural installations.

Lopdell House Gallery - Off-site @ New Lynn - 5 Totara Avenue, New Lynn, Auckland - www.lopdell.org.nz

ENDS

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