History – Pioneer Potter – Kauri Museum

Following our previous article regarding the Paparoa Brickworks, established by James Redfern in 1870, and later sold to Robert Quaife in 1908, we highlight another artisan lured by the clay deposits of Paparoa, James Wright (1819-1887).

Many similarities exist between Wright and Redfern. Firstly, they hailed from the heart of England’s thriving pottery industry – Staffordshire. Both progressed to managerial positions in their respective fields – brickmaking for Redfern and pottery for Wright – bringing a wealth of industry knowledge and experience with them to Aotearoa.

Wright and Redfern, accompanied by their families, both emigrated on nonconformist passenger ships as part of the Albertland scheme – Redfern in 1862 and Wright a year later aboard the Annie Wilson. Both families initially settled in Auckland, not uncommon at the time, and Redfern and Wright took up respective positions in West Auckland, the hub of the pottery industry.

Wright’s first job was with Pollens, located on the Whau River, and he wasted no time in establishing a name for himself. In 1864, while in their employ, a series of his works was exhibited by Dr Pollen at the preview for the 1865 New Zealand Industrial Exhibition. The following year, Wright was awarded an Honorary Certificate for “Pottery of Colonial Manufacture” for the same domestic ware pieces – vases, teapots, fruit stands, plates, butter coolers, water jugs and ornaments. Wright went on to establish his own pottery works on the Rewarewa Creek, also in West Auckland. Needing a kiln to be built, he turned to his associate, brickmaking expert James Redfern.

Both the Wright and Redfern families eventually moved to Paparoa – Redfern in the early 1870s and Wright later in 1875, setting up his pottery works very near Redfern Brickworks on the Paparoa Creek, a mere 700 meters upstream. Sensing the popularity of his pottery would prevail in the city, Wright retained close ties with an Auckland store, sending a substantial collection of Rockinghamware-style objects to be displayed, recorded in The Southern Cross newspaper as being: “handsomely glazed and beautifully ornamented”.

Sadly, after four years with insufficient local demand, the Wrights relocated to Hamilton, where they operated successful pottery businesses, remaining loyal to their craft. Sometime in 1882, James and Mary Wright returned to Paparoa for retirement.

It is thought that the two objects pictured here were made by James Wright, of Paparoa. However, no maker’s mark exists on either. Both were gifted to the Kauri Museum – the jug by Coles & Goodall, and the teapot by J & J Abbott. Very little information was supplied. Incidentally, the teapot was recorded as a coffeepot, but on closer inspection, holes to prevent tea leaves from escaping down the spout were found, indicating that it is indeed a teapot.

Should readers have any further information regarding James Wright Pottery, we would love to hear from you. Sources: S & D Reynolds, The Colonial Potteries of James Wright, Historic Places magazine, March 1985. S Best, J Redfern Brickworks and J Wright Potteries, 1992. https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2w35/wright-james