Susan Parkinson Policeman Bottle Stopper

A Parkinson Pottery bottle stopper modelled on a “Bobby” (British police officer), designed by Susan Parkinson circa 1956.

Cashmore & Smith-Vincent [1] record that the pottery was requested of bottle stoppers by the American market. Specifically, buyers in the US wanted something typically British. First Susan created a bird topped stopper, and one adorned with a fish. Of course, neither of these could be said to be particularly British, so she then designed the policeman bottle stopper complete with the distinctive custodian helmet.

The policeman’s head was a great success, which led Susan to extend the series by incorporating three additional stoppers with military heads designed by Guy Neale. Namely these were the French gendarme, grenadier guard, and cavalry officer.

Neale’s designs predated Parkinson’s, being the pottery’s first experimental bottle stoppers. However, for his designs to enter the pottery’s normal production range it was necessary for the moulds to be remade. This work was undertaken by Susan who also decorated the heads in the pottery’s typical style. Resultantly, the four stoppers featuring heads of ‘officials’ sit harmoniously together and make a brilliant collection.

[1] Cashmore, Carol and Vincent-Smith, Tim. ‘Susan Parkinson and the Richard Parkinson Pottery’ (Carol Cashmore, 2004).