Rare Vintage 1950s/60s Welsh Slipware Jug by Rhys & Jean Powell, Llangollen

A wonderfully characterful piece of Welsh studio pottery, handmade in Llangollen in the 1950s/60s by husband-and-wife potters Rhys and Jean Powell.

This jug is everything I love about mid-century Welsh slipware, warm, generous, and full of movement. Thrown in a rich terracotta clay and glazed in a deep chestnut brown, it’s decorated with hand-trailed cream slip lines that fall vertically down the body, softened by small, inky-black starburst motifs dotted between them. The decoration feels rhythmic and joyful, completely unmistakable in its handmade nature.

The inside is glazed in the softest pale celadon-green, a beautiful contrast to the darker exterior, an unmistakable Powell & Powell detail. 

The form itself is beautifully balanced: a gentle waisted shape, a comfortable curved handle, and a softly pinched pouring lip that feels lovely in the hand. It’s practical, but it’s also sculptural. The kind of jug that holds its own on an open shelf.

Rhys and Jean Powell’s work is becoming increasingly sought after, appreciated for its warmth, craftsmanship, and distinctive decorative style. Pieces like this embody Welsh studio pottery traditions, rooted in place, made slowly with care and intention. 

Dimensions;
Height: 16.5cm
Top length: 9cm x width: 8.5cm
Base diameter: 8cm