Historical information

Marion POPPLEWELL (1912-1998)
Born Yorkshire

Marion Popplewell visited relatives in Ballarat in the early 1940s. She loved Ballarat so much she decided to stay. She worked at a bank in Lydiard Street, opposite the Art Gallery of Ballarat, and lived in rooms above the Lydiard Street Shops. Marion enrolled in some evening classes at the Ballarat Technical Art School (a predecessor institution of Federation University Australia) conducted by Neville Bunning. He was nor overly happy with her small colourful jugs and vases, wanting her to handbuild pots, rather than wheel throw them. Marion Popplewell continued making her small wheel thrown pots with fine handles, and made glazes herself from materials imported from England.

Attending classes in Ceramics up until the mid 1970s, she also took some classes in Woodwork and Needlework. Her 'Pink Glazed Jug' 1945 won a prize at the Royal Melbourne Show in the late 1940s. She died in Melbourne on 26 September 1998.

This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.

Physical description

Wheel thrown vessel with 2 handles and turned foot. Bronze like glaze with some feint pearlescence and slight crazing.

Inscriptions & markings

Inscription on base reads "MP 74," sticker reads "2"