I'm sure that our regular readers will appreciate a good piece of ceramic art when they see it. Here we have a 1930's New Hall Pottery 'Bourmier Ware' Lustre Dish.
If you look at the signature on the base you will find that it is that of the former Stoke and Burslem Port Vale right half, Lucien Boullemier...
An interesting life indeed. Lucien Boullemier's father was a French ceramic artist who moved to Stoke to ply his trade. Lucien followed in his father's footsteps. As well as being a talented painter he was also a very keen footballer. He represented Stoke but played most of his first class matches for Burslem Port Vale. When he moved to the United States to work for the Lenox China factory in New Jersey he continued his 'soccer', playing for Philadelphia Hibernian. Boullemier's finest moment as a player came in 1898. Burslem Port Vale, who were then in the Midland League, (financial problems had forced them to withdraw from the Football league in 1896) were drawn to play Sheffield United in the first round of the FA Cup. Sheffield United were at the time at the top of division one, having lost only two games all season. The first game at Bramall Lane saw United leveling through a controversial penalty. The replay was on Wednesday 2nd February at Vale's Cobridge Athletic ground.
Dick Evans put Vale ahead in the first half. Harry Thickett equalised with 8 minutes remaining. In extra time, Boullemier, who had earlier been poleaxed by a shoulder charge from Willy Foulke, got the winner in extra time.
Vale traveled to Burnley in the next round and were beaten 3-0. The finished the season 7th in The Midland league and were re elected to the Football League for the following season.
