Poole Pottery "Fresco"

Poole Pottery Fresco was introduced in 1997 and was designed by Rachel Barker and Andrew Brickett. It belongs to Poole’s late 1990s tableware period, when the factory was producing softer, hand-decorated designs on white earthenware.

The pattern features a simple olive and olive leaf motif, combined with brushed slip, sponging and hand-painted underglaze decoration. The borders vary in warm earthy tones, including soft yellows, terracotta shades and pale blue-green, giving the range a relaxed Mediterranean feel.

Fresco was produced on rounded white earthenware shapes, with the design used across dinner ware, tea ware and serving pieces. The combination of painterly colour, gentle curves and simple fruit motif made it one of the more memorable Poole designs of this period.

When matching Fresco, it is worth checking that pieces are from the original Poole Pottery production. Later tribute-style pieces inspired by discontinued Poole designs may look similar at first glance, but the shapes, backstamps and finish can differ from original Poole Pottery examples.

For many customers, Fresco is a pattern they are trying to keep in regular use. As a discontinued Poole range, it is often sought out by those looking to replace a broken mug, find a missing plate, or add useful serving pieces to an existing set.

Availability depends entirely on what becomes available through the pre-loved market. As with many hand-decorated Poole designs, slight differences in tone, placement and finish are part of the pattern’s character.