Ceramic shard with white and green glazed finish pottery, ceramic, archaeology

Viola Annie McVicars (1911–1990) was born in Korumburra on 29 April 1911. At the age of 21, she married William John Ayling (1909–1995). After their marriage in 1932, they moved to Kew, initially to 81 Tennyson Street, and later to 180 Pakington Street. A professional tailoress, Viola Ayling was also a talented amateur potter, creating her ceramics at her home in Pakington Street, where she had an internal studio and a handmade, wood-fired brick kiln in her backyard. Following her death in 1990, her studio pottery passed to her daughter, and following the daughter’s death, to her granddaughter. This piece of glazed earthenware is part of a collection of 15 functional and decorative ceramic items donated by Viola’s granddaughter to the collection in 2024.A pair of handmade bookends, expertly potted and glazed. The style is representative of Australian ceramic design of the period, particularly that employed by Klytie Pate.Pair of hand moulded abstract ceramic wall sculptures with holes and marks of the original wires on the reverse. The front and back are glazed while the interior has been left unglazed. The free-form shapes resemble waves which were initially covered with a white glaze which was then overgrazed in a semi-transparent turquoise glaze. Both pieces are signed by the artist on the reverse.Signature to bases: "V. Ayling"ceramics, pakington street -- kew (vic.), viola annie mcvicars, viola annie ayling, ceramic sculptures

Used by the MMTB in an office setting or Wattle Park Tea rooms.Demonstrates the manufacture of crockery for use in either a tea room or an office setting for a Senior Manager of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board.White china or ceramic cream or milk jug with MMTB logo with a small handle. Made from China clay, glazed and vitrified or fired. Has a small formed spout, MMTB logo in dark green. On the underside has the words "Grindley Hotel Ware, England, Vitrified, Loftus Moran Pty Ltd, Melbourne. Patent. Has a crown or manufacturers mark on the top of the lettering. Possibly made for use at the Wattle Park chalet or head office.mmtb, crockery, grindley hotelware, loftus moran, wattle park, tramways