Honiton museum curator Margaret Lewis
Published:
6:00 AM April 10, 2021
Honiton potter Freddie Jeanes
- Credit: Honiton museum
This vase is definitely a one-off. It was hand thrown, painted, and signed ‘Freddie Jeanes’ at Honiton Pottery in 1919. The pot is well thrown, the black matt background is unusual, but the decoration is basic.
More interesting is its creator. Frederick Sayers Jeanes and his twin brother Alfred Francis were born in Bedminster, Bristol in September 1860. Sadly, Alfred died in infancy, as did their younger sister Elizabeth Matilda. Their father John was a pottery warehouseman and later became a haulier.
Freddie was the first thrower that Charles Collard employed after he bought the Honiton Pottery in 1918. It is possible that Collard and Freddie met when Charles was living in Ilminster and Freddie was working as a potter’s labourer at Donyatt Pottery. In the 1901 census Freddie was listed as a widower and living in the same house as earthenware potter William Arlidge and his wife Mary at Forest Gate Donyatt.