Susan Parkinson & Guy Neale Boxed Trio of Bottle Stoppers

A remarkable trio of Parkinson Pottery porcelain bottle stoppers, designed by Susan Parkinson and Guy Neale and presented in their original box from circa 1955.

The pottery's series of bottle stoppers originated following a request from its American buyers for designs with a distinctly British character. Susan Parkinson responded with her Policeman, whose success prompted the development of further designs after Guy Neale joined the pottery in 1954.

This boxed set brings together Parkinson's original Policeman stopper with two of Neale's subsequent designs: a Cavalry Officer, distinguished by his enormous helmet, and, rather less Britishly, a French Gendarme with his characteristic képi and moustache. For these two stoppers, Neale designed the original heads, while Susan adapted the moulds for production and decorated the finished figures in the pottery's distinctive style.

The original cardboard box is a seldom-seen survival and brilliantly captures the playful visual language of the Parkinson Pottery. The simple blue-lined box is transformed by four large graphic labels, combining an array of typefaces to spell out "Richard Parkinson Porcelain Bottle Topper Trio" in white and subtly metallic lettering.

Surviving together as originally presented, the three bottle stoppers and their original packaging provide an unusually complete expression of the Parkinson Pottery's visual identity.