Ellis Ceramics (Australia)

Founded in 1953 by Czechoslovakian migrants Dagmar and Miloslav Kratochvil, Ellis Ceramics is a cornerstone of mid-century Australian pottery.

Arriving in Melbourne in 1951, the Kratochvils initially established a small studio in their Abbotsford backyard. As their modernist designs gained commercial traction (securing large orders from major department stores like Myer and Grace Bros) the operation expanded to a dedicated factory at 86 Nicholson Street, Abbotsford.

At its peak in the 1960s, the studio employed over 15 staff members, including art students from RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) and international ceramicists, before closing in 1972.

One of the characteristics of Ellis' production is the contrast between commercial slip-casting and unique, hand-finished detailing. While pieces were produced from standardised moulds to meet high post-war demand, the Kratochvils ensured nearly every item was individually decorated. Artists utilised techniques like sgraffito (scratching through surface layers to reveal contrasting clay beneath) and applied textured lava glazes, those often seen in West German pottery from the same era. In the late 1960s, the studio introduced cadmium selenium glazes, resulting in the highly saturated red and orange finishes that collectors see today.

While they produced a vast array of functional tableware, vases, and lamp bases, Ellis is perhaps most famous for its sculptural, stylised animal figurines. Their bulls, cats, and rams perfectly encapsulate the bold, European-influenced modernist aesthetic of the 1960s.