A Poole Pottery Persian Deer vase by Ruth Pavely

A Poole Pottery Persian Deer vase by Ruth Pavely, shape no.966, painted in colours on a white ground impressed and painted marks, hairline crack 25cm. high Provenance Roy Holland, managing Director of Poole Pottery, thence by descent Roy Holland (1911-1991) Born in Stoke on Trent, Roy Holland followed a long family line of potters dating back to the early 19th century where the business traded as Holland & Green. From 1938 to 1945 he served in the Royal Air Force and at the end of hostilities he joined Poole Pottery, a business that had been run down by the war. Between 1946 and 1962 he was the works director, being promoted to Managing Director, a position he held until retiring in 1976. Under his guidance the company developed new production techniques, new ranges including Contemporary and Freeform of the 1950's and Studio in the 1960's that reached out to new markets. After his death in 1991 part of his collection was donated to the Museum in Poole.