Dolphin Pottery | A Rainbow of Mid-Century Colours

The Dolphin range is one of the most charming and versatile designs in the early Portmeirion catalogue. Originally produced by Gray's Pottery exclusively for the Portmeirion Village shops, this design perfectly blends Susan Williams-Ellis’s architectural heritage with her lifelong fascination for marine life.

The Design: Architectural Elegance

The Dolphin motif is structured like a classical pediment found in Greek or Roman architecture. It features:

• The Central Motif: A formal pediment containing either decorative shells or classic text.

• The Dolphins: Two stylized, heraldic dolphins flanking the center.

• The Surround: The entire scene is framed by elegant swags that resemble either laurel leaves or flowing seaweed—a nod to Susan’s "underwater" artistic eye.

A Rainbow of Mid-Century Colours

One of the reasons Dolphin is so beloved by modern decorators is its incredible colour palette. Designed to harmonise with any kitchen scheme, it was produced in:

• Classic Tones: Grey, Dark Green, and Lime.

• Vibrant Retro Hues: Orange, Turquoise, Pink, Yellow and Lavender.

Collector’s Insight: The "Sunderland" Lustre

For the serious enthusiast, the "Holy Grail" of this range is the Pink Lustre edition. These very early pieces were finished with a sumptuous Sunderland-style lustre, giving them a metallic, iridescent glow.

How to Identify Early Pieces:

• Backstamps: Look for the famous Gray’s Pottery "Clipper" backstamp, which denotes the earliest production runs before Portmeirion took over its own manufacturing entirely.

• Rarity: Production likely ceased around 1968, making these pieces a finite and highly collectable piece of Portmeirion history.

Building a Dolphin collection? From early Pink Lustre to vibrant 1960's Turquoise, explore our authenticated Dolphin range here.