Variations | Unique 1964 Abstract Design

Launched in 1964, Variations was a brilliant response to a common manufacturing headache: the wasted space on expensive transfer sheets. Susan’s solution was to design a continuous, non-linear abstract pattern that looked stunning regardless of how it was cropped.

The "Unique" Mass-Production

Because the transfer sheets were cut into different sections to fit the varying dimensions of the pottery, the placement of the motif was never identical.

• The "Variations" Effect: On one coffee pot, you might see a dominant geometric cluster; on another of the same shape, you might see the airy, negative space of the pattern.

• Ingenuity: This turned every item into a unique piece of "abstract art," a concept that felt incredibly modern in the mid-1960's and remains strikingly contemporary today.

Shapes and Evolution

Variations was initially used to launch the Serif range—Susan’s more angular, architectural shape. Its success soon saw it migrate to the broader Portmeirion catalogue:

• The Classics: It appeared on the tall Cylinder shapes and the heavy Imperial tankards.

• Kitchen Essentials: Collectors often hunt for the smaller, more intricate applications on sugar sifters, storage jars, and cruet sets, where the pattern had to be "scaled down" most dramatically.

Collector’s Insight: The Four-Year Rarity

Despite its brilliance, Variations had a relatively short production life, being withdrawn in 1968.

• Current Demand: In 2026, this range is a favourite for "Graphic Modernist" collectors. Because it doesn't look like "traditional" pottery, it is highly sought after by those who furnish their homes with abstract prints.

• The Hunt: Collectors often try to find "pairs" of the same item (like two coffee cans) to display the "Variations" side-by-side, proving that no two pieces are quite the same.