Jessie Tait Designs for Midwinter Pottery

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Post-war ceramics arrived in an explosion of style and colour, creating contemporary ‘new look’ that is so desirable among collectors today. One of the most innovative potteries was Midwinter Pottery, largely due to one of its most celebrated designers – Jessie Tait. She was the only full time in-house designer to work for Midwinter, and her simple yet stunning designs are keenly appreciated by collectors.

jessie tait midwinter toadstool design — Jessie Tait Midwinter Toadstool Design
A selection of Jessie Tait Midwinter Toadstool Design items including plates, trios, cups, sauces etc.
Sold for £600 at Unique Auctions, The Lincoln Auctioneers, 2013.

Her early 1950s designs such as the black and white Festival, Zambesi, Red Domino and Toadstool are among her most well known. Her later 1960s designs such as Mexicana and Spanish Garden are much easier to find and collect. Her style was often detailed and geometric, making an effective transition to transfer printed wares.

Midwinter Red Domino tea set by Jessie Tait — Midwinter Red Domino pattern tea set by Jessie Tait

Jessie Tait was in Stoke-on-Trent in 1928 – 14 January 2010 and studied at the Burslem School of Art. She first worked as a junior designer to Charlotte Rhead, and then as designer for the Midwinter Pottery between 1946 and 1974.

A Midwinter Zambesi pattern dinner service by Jessie Tait — A Midwinter Zambesi pattern dinner service

The Midwinter Pottery was taken over by J. & G. Meakin in 1968, and again by Wedgwood in 1970. She moved from Midwinter to Johnson Brothers, another part of the Wedgwood group, and retired in the early 1990s.