Samarkand | Rare 1964 Eastern Relief Design

Launched in 1964, Samarkand followed in the footsteps of the incredibly successful Totem and Cypher ranges. However, Susan Williams-Ellis took the technique a step further by moving away from single-colour glazes and experimenting with hand-applied, multi-coloured highlights on the embossed surfaces.

The "Jeweled" Palette

While Samarkand utilised the same relief-molding technique as its predecessors, the finish was far more labour-intensive. Susan designed several vibrant colour combinations that were hand-painted onto the raised geometric patterns:

• The Rare "Jewel" Tones: Blue & Green, Purple & Green, Blue & Purple, Orange & Yellow, and Pink & Rust. These were applied over a crisp white body.

• The Signature Variant: The most iconic (and frequently found) version features a body totally covered in a rich amber glaze, with the embossed details highlighted in red and black.

The "Circus Tent" Tureen

The absolute showstopper of the Samarkand range was the covered tureen. It is one of Susan’s most whimsical architectural designs:

• The Design: Featuring a medieval-shaped lid and sharp triangular patterns, it was famously topped with a large, "impractical" ball finial.

• The Circus Aesthetic: Susan herself noted that it resembled a fantastical circus tent.

• The Punch Bowl Pivot: After a trade buyer noted its dramatic scale, Susan suggested it be used as a punch bowl, leading her to design matching dual-purpose punch cup/soup goblets to complete the set.

Collector’s Insight: The Texture of the 60's

In 2026, Samarkand is highly prized by collectors of Bohemian and Maximalist decor. Because the coloured highlights were hand-painted, each piece has a slightly different "personality."

• The "Amber" Standard: While the amber/red/black version is the most common, it remains a staple of mid-century display cabinets.

• The White-Body Rarities: Finding the orange/yellow or pink/rust versions on a white body is a significant win for any serious archivist, as these were produced in much lower numbers.

Looking for a "Circus Tent" tureen or a set of Samarkand punch cups? Browse our Samarkand pieces here.