Featured Toothbrush holder or elaborate eggcup?

Here's a fine little enigma for you ...





I have had this for a long while now, and it has always fascinated me.

At first, when my wife brought it to me, I thought it was some school project. Now, I am not so sure.

It is a very elaborate piece that has been painstakingly put together. Unfortunately, the attempt to make a complex structure has not quite worked - the need to be exact has not worked, so making the piece appear slightly 'wonky'. But, of course, that is one reason why my wife finds it adorable!

Yet, the base is well marked, as though this was created by a professional hand. And it has one glaze on the interior - and another glaze on the exterior. If this is a student work then it is an advanced one.

All of which leads to the inevitable question - who made it?

The marks:
J.McK
'79
S or 5

Although McK implies Scotland UK, that does not mean to say that it might not come from anywhere else! The point of interest is that it has been stamped with possibly a metal stamp - which could indicate that it is a professional piece. '79 may well be the date (1979 rather than 1879 I think!). As for the S/5 ... style number five?

11.5cm/4.5 inches tall, base diameter 9cm/3.5 inches

So, any guesses as to what we have been putting our toothbrushes in? Is it Scottish? Who is J.McK? Questions, questions, questions ...

 

Adorable - wonky or not!

 

I think you have a piece of studio pottery made by someone with the initials of
J. McK.
Made in 1979

There is no reason to think it is Scottish made. Only that the person may have that kind of ancestry.

 

Yes clutteredcloset49 - you are correct ... what I want to know is if anyone recognizes either the initials (ie the name of the potter), or the pot itself (which will also lead me - hopefully - to the potter/pottery) ... I need them to tell me who or what. J.McK might have been their full name - ie J. McKAY ... there is a McKay who is a potter ... but not of this one.... DOH!