The year was 1969, a monumental year when the world witnessed the first man setting foot on the moon. This era, defined by technological advances and limitless possibilities, inspired artists to venture into the unknown, in the realms of imagination and creativity. One such artist was Susan William-Ellis, renowned for her remarkable ceramic designs for Portmeirion. Capitalizing on the excitement of the time, she fashioned an extraordinary design that stands as a testament to her creative brilliance – the Magic Garden. We take a look at examples of this great pattern along with a realised auction price guide and value guide.

Following her popular Magic City design, the Magic Garden pattern is a remarkable projection of Susan’s vision of lunar vegetation. It speaks of a time when the prospect of space travel captured imaginations globally, driving artists like Susan to dream and create patterns that reflected the spirit of this new era.

Unlike most designs that draw inspiration from the natural world, the Magic Garden design is a fantastical and futuristic pattern, giving us a glimpse into Susan’s imaginative moon flora. Dominated by artistic representations of ferns and seed pods, the design is rendered in a vibrant blend of greens, blues, and black on a white ground. The result is an eye-catching 3D effect that seems to breathe life into the ceramic pieces.

Amidst the dynamic pattern, Susan included a delightful surprise — a lovely flying bird camouflaged among the verdant foliage, only noticeable to the keen observer. This charming touch adds a whimsical element to the otherwise abstract and futuristic design, illustrating Susan’s knack for harmonizing contrast.

The Magic Garden was introduced in 1970 as part of Portmeirion’s collection, applied to a range of Cylinder shaped tea, coffee, and dinnerware items. It quickly became a favourite among fans and critics, revered for its flamboyance, dynamism, and the exciting blend of imagination and reality it encapsulates.

In 2010, Portmeirion celebrated its 50th Anniversary with the launch of the Portmeirion Originals collection, drawing inspiration from Susan William-Ellis’s iconic archive designs. A tribute to Susan’s visionary prowess, the Magic Garden was a notable inclusion in this collection, allowing new generations to appreciate this extraordinary design.

Despite the fantastic and intriguing design of the Magic Garden design, the prices for items at auction do not reflect the ingenuity of Susan William-Ellis design. This can be said of many pottery designs. Traditional auction houses are selling sizeable quantities for less than £30 / $40. Plates £10 / $12. Hopefully, prices will increase.

Related
Portmeirion Magic City Design Information and Price Guide
Portmeirion Pottery and Sir Clough William-Ellis