Seder Plate
Object numberM2018/014:002
TitleSeder Plate
CreatorVande Pottery
DescriptionPassover seder plate in the form of a six-pointed star, with seven depressions, each with gilt Hebrew and English writing, Pesach (Passover), Salt water, Shank bone, Bitter Herbs, Parsley, Lettuce and Haroseth (a mixture of nuts and wine, a traditional recipe). This dish is traditionally placed in the centre of the Passover dinner table and remains there throughout the dinner, used ceremonially. The background colour for the plate is a turquoise glaze.
A local Rabbi is reputed to have helped with written sheets of the words in Hebrew which the artists copied. It bears the painted underglaze name 'Vande' and the stylised initials 'MA' for the decorator, Marlene Adams.
Samuel Joseph Vandersluis was born on 30 January 1903 in Middlesex, England to Dutch-Jewish parents Benjamin Vandersluis and Alice Joseph. He married Doris Thomas in January 1939 and they had two sons, Gary and Roy.
Before immigration, Samuel worked in London in a variety of arts based industries including floristry, theatre and sculpture. Samuel migrated with his family aboard the 'Esperance Bay' in September 1948. His son Gary recalls his father leaving the family on the ship at Fremantle, travelling across the Nullabor by train and arriving in Sydney. By the time the family were reunited, Samuel had bought a business, house and car.
Samuel purchased 'The Pottery' from Vera Gertrude Kilpatrick, a small established pottery studio in Mosman which he renamed 'Vande Pottery'. The studio was one of many small commercial potteries that sprang up after World War II to fill a need for decorative ceramics. Gary believes his father chose a business that would fit well with his previous experience as a sculptor in England. Samuel obtained his clay from Mashmans at Willoughby, and prepared his own casting and firing. He primarily focused his pottery towards the growing souvenir market within Australia, utilizing strong Australian motifs inspired by Indigenous Aboriginal cultural motives and native flora. These pieces included wall plaques, ashtrays, vases and dishes. The studio also produced limited fine art and Australian Judaica pieces. Vande employed a variety of artists, many of whom came from East Sydney Technical College. Gary states his father gave his artists freedom to interpret his original designs (which is especially evident in the Bar Mitzvah pottery) but gave final approval on all objects produced in the studio.
In January 1964, the studio was closed due to the increasing competition of Japanese imports in the early 1960s. Samuel and his wife instead expanded their antique business venture, changing the pottery studio into an antique store. They went on to have a store in Edgecliff and Mosman. Although he never sculpted or made ceramics again, Samuel continued to identify as a Potter well into the 1970s.
He passed away 1 August 1983 at the age of 80.
A local Rabbi is reputed to have helped with written sheets of the words in Hebrew which the artists copied. It bears the painted underglaze name 'Vande' and the stylised initials 'MA' for the decorator, Marlene Adams.
Samuel Joseph Vandersluis was born on 30 January 1903 in Middlesex, England to Dutch-Jewish parents Benjamin Vandersluis and Alice Joseph. He married Doris Thomas in January 1939 and they had two sons, Gary and Roy.
Before immigration, Samuel worked in London in a variety of arts based industries including floristry, theatre and sculpture. Samuel migrated with his family aboard the 'Esperance Bay' in September 1948. His son Gary recalls his father leaving the family on the ship at Fremantle, travelling across the Nullabor by train and arriving in Sydney. By the time the family were reunited, Samuel had bought a business, house and car.
Samuel purchased 'The Pottery' from Vera Gertrude Kilpatrick, a small established pottery studio in Mosman which he renamed 'Vande Pottery'. The studio was one of many small commercial potteries that sprang up after World War II to fill a need for decorative ceramics. Gary believes his father chose a business that would fit well with his previous experience as a sculptor in England. Samuel obtained his clay from Mashmans at Willoughby, and prepared his own casting and firing. He primarily focused his pottery towards the growing souvenir market within Australia, utilizing strong Australian motifs inspired by Indigenous Aboriginal cultural motives and native flora. These pieces included wall plaques, ashtrays, vases and dishes. The studio also produced limited fine art and Australian Judaica pieces. Vande employed a variety of artists, many of whom came from East Sydney Technical College. Gary states his father gave his artists freedom to interpret his original designs (which is especially evident in the Bar Mitzvah pottery) but gave final approval on all objects produced in the studio.
In January 1964, the studio was closed due to the increasing competition of Japanese imports in the early 1960s. Samuel and his wife instead expanded their antique business venture, changing the pottery studio into an antique store. They went on to have a store in Edgecliff and Mosman. Although he never sculpted or made ceramics again, Samuel continued to identify as a Potter well into the 1970s.
He passed away 1 August 1983 at the age of 80.
Production placeSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Production date 1952 - 1964
Object nameplates
Materialceramic
Dimensions
- width: 370.00 mm
height: 330.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by the Australiana Society