Susan Parkinson "Toucan"

Susan Parkinson's "Toucan" was the very first design produced at Parkinson Pottery, and has the model number '1'.

The design dates from 1952, when the Parkinson's were only just beginning to explore slip-casting as a method to produce Susan's work. Significantly, this bird is from the very first mould that Susan Parkinson designed & made herself.

The bird's sleek & Modernist design is partly due to practicality; the Parkinson's were still learning how to cast, and needed to start with a simple form. Susan's skill as a sculptor, however, allowed her to produce a design which was uncomplicated yet remarkably enticing.

The abstract bird features a large, pointed beak and an elegant silhouette, and is composed with a fluidity and precision that brilliantly captures the distinctive creature's essence with only a few gestures. The bird's monochromatic decoration has been achieved with wax-resist & sgraffito method, and depicts the loose brushstrokes and swirling lines typical of Parkinson's brilliant work.

The remarkable ability to capture the distinct character of any animal in a highly simplistic way was the basis of the Parkinson's success, and this design set the stylistic precedent for the Pottery's later ceramics production. This initial work contains all of the signature elements for which Susan Parkinson is renowned.

Although widely referred to as a "Toucan", the official name of this early design is simply 'Small Bird', although Richard Parkinson would also refer to this design as an 'Egyptian Coptic'.