Green Pumpkin - Shorter & Son

Name: Shorter & Son "Green Pumpkin"
 
Type: Creamer/Milk Jug
 
Year: Circa 1930s
 
Set: No
 
Mark: Shorter & Son - Shorter & Son, Staffordshire, Handpainted, England
 
History: Shorter & Son operated in Stoke-on-Trent and is known for its vibrant hand-painted majolica and Art Deco ware. This creamer is part of their rustic vegetable or fruit-inspired lines, and the ribbed, bulbous form mimics a pumpkin or gourd. The orange and green drip glaze with intentional crazing is typical of 1930s English art pottery aimed at a mass-market audience with decorative flair.
 
 
Mottled glaze in green, orange, and ivory, with deep intentional crazing for texture. Sculptural, lobed body resembling a squash or pumpkin, sitting on a subtle flared foot. Internal glaze is neutral and matte, contrasting with the glossy outer glaze. The pulled handle has subtle moulded thumb rest features, hand-dipped and wiped to create multicolour pooling effects.
 
 
All-over glaze crazing, likely original to the piece and used as a textural feature. Some discoloration and glaze pooling, typical of period majolica-style finishes. No visible structural cracks or chips. Rim and handle show only minimal age wear.
 
 
Shorter & Son’s fruit and vegetable forms—while once considered kitsch—are increasingly appreciated in Art Deco and English country kitchen collections. Rarer examples and excellent condition pieces have grown in value in recent years. This creamer’s form, vibrant glaze, and clear backstamp place it in the $35–$55 USD range.
 
Flaws: Crazing throughout