Wakefield Museums and Castles

This coffee set is a beautiful example of Castleford peasant pottery. This style of decoration was popular locally in the early 20th century. The pots were colourful and affordable.

Alice Gostick hand painted the striking cross and spiral patterns. She also added her unique maker's mark to the base of each piece.

Alice’s pottery inspired this poem by Susan McCarthy. Susan is a member of the Wakefield Word with Black Horse Poets writers’ group:

A tea-set, an item so commonplace

With the flick of the brush and twist of the wrist

Is transformed by Alice’s skill and grace

Each stroke of the colour blue

Each vibrant curl and square take shape

Each brush alive with vibrant hue

Painting pottery is her art. She guides, she inspires, serving only to share

She’s a teacher. A muse

And her students absorb her passion, her flair

Students, be they novice or prodigy, blossom in Alice’s classroom

Not only a room, but so much more

It’s a place where dreams expand and creativity blooms

The young Henry Moore

Eyes narrowed in concentration

Decorates a plate as he sits cross-legged on the floor

You may hear her words, ‘Mr Wainwright, your brushwork is quite sublime’

At her night school for adults, artists all

And she may call ‘Mr Moore, your painting is so delicate, so fine’

In Alice’s hands, there’s a desire to create in every finger, and on every face

For the nation, the humble clay is transformed to a glorious creation

When Alice, Albert, and Henry commence to paint