Chemist Prints

The 'Chemist Prints' range of pottery ware started life being called 'Medicine Prints' back in 1962. Susan Williams-Ellis re-used the nineteenth century copper plates that she inherited when she bought Kirkham's and remade the pharmaceutical and medical prints and labels to decorate her pottery ware. The bizarre range of slogans and adverts included 'Horne's Odontoline toothpaste', 'Deckers Sulphur Scurf Pomade ', 'Universities Toilet Club', 'Cold Cream' and 'Superior Potted Yarmouth Bloaters'. All of the prints were printed as black transfers and placed onto predominately white ware. There are some items however, that have been put onto white ware that have a coloured area behind the actual print. As wacky as this range first appeared it seamlessly fitted in with the 'Carnaby Street' style that was so popular around that time and continued on until the 1970's, although pieces are difficult to find nowadays.