a lakes cornish pottery truro celadon glazed chamberstick.
diameter ... 130mm height ... 70mm
chambersticks have been around for a long time. they differ from a candlestick in that they were originally designed to be carried. they have a wide dish like base known as a wax pan to catch dripping wax thus protecting the user, their clothes, rugs and furniture from spills. originally they would be found in the entrance hall ready for use at night by a member of the household when they wished to retire to their bedroom. in the morning the chamberstick would be collected by the chambermaid and returned to the hall for use later that evening.
w.h. lake and son founded their pottery in truro, cornwall in 1872. the company produced attractive earthenware pots for a variety of domestic purposes, everyday essentials.
in 1920 when bernard leach established his new pottery in st.ives, he cited a lakes pot as the type he would like to make. on regular visits to truro, bernard leach his sons and the apprentices would watch the two potters barry pascoe and henry venn working. barry pascoe would pull the handles and henry venn would throw the pots. bill marshall who went on to become one of britains finest throwers and bernard leach's first apprentice, was in awe of the truro potters.
henry venn had previously owned his own pottery in truro, but after the first world war and the shortage of manpower he went to work for lakes taking barry pascoe with him.
after bill lakes death his wife continued the running of the pottery until sadly it was destroyed by fire in the 1990's
