History
I’ve found very little about the history of this small BC pottery. There seems to be quite a few pieces to be found here in Western Canada – very free-form and organic in shapes and colours. I’ll continue to look for information of the potter (and pottery), Ínéke. If anyone has any info, please pass it along. I’d love to know more.
Dates: 1962-1997
Artist: Inéke van’t Riet
Profile: Born on Aug 1, 1928. Survived WW2 in the Netherlands. At age 14, training began with a potter in Holland. Married in 1951. Immigrated to Canada from Holland in 1952 (1953?). Worked across Canada, stopping in Calgary, AB for 2 years. Moved to Cordova Bay, Vancouver Island around 1955. Died Sept 27, 1997.
Inéke’s first child was born in the Cordova Bay area in 1957. The young family moved to West Saanich in 1962, when her second child was born. Ineke Pottery opened in Saanich in this same year. Inéke, with her husband, created and sold her distinctive, organic form pottery pieces. Ineke Pottery sold to Butchart Gardens, BC Ferries, the old Fable Cottage and many more stores. June, the oldest daughter, remembers that they all helped in the pottery as Inéke turned a lot of pieces, sometimes hundreds in a day, to fill orders. It was the van’t Riet’s sole business, providing for five children, until Inéke could no longer turn her pottery creations. Inéke transitioned to stoneware pottery in the 1980s, but produced almost nothing in the 90s, passing away from cancer on Sept. 27, 1997.
Location: Victoria and Saanichton, BC. Her studio was located in the double cottage at Mt. Newton and West Saanich Rd. [confirmed by family members]
Inéke’s pottery displays botanical motifs and may have been inspired by the vegetation that grew in the Butchart Gardens. Pieces are often hand-turned with artisan decoration of applied flowers (dogwood), in studio-pottery style.
Inéke pottery was made for specific places or events and many pieces were made for souvenir and gift shops, such as Mattick’s Farm, a shopping center on Cordova Bay Rd, Victoria, BC, Victoria’s world famous Butchart Gardens, and for shops on the BC Ferries. Pieces could be found in shops across western Canada.
Marks: inscribed, hand-scripted under glaze, stamped, hangtag, or any mark with a hangtag
Hangtag: shows woman at potter’s wheel – ‘Beautifully made on the Potterswheel by “Inéke” in Victoria B.C’
![6d. Ineke 'Autumn' cruet jug with dipping bowl [mark]](https://canadapottery.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Ineke-Vinigar-jar-Dipping-bowl-mark.gif)
![1c. Ineke trinket or mint dish, applied Dogwood flower [base & mark]](https://canadapottery.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Ineke-trinket-dish-mark.gif)
![5d. Ineke creamer & open sugar [sugar mark]](https://canadapottery.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Ineke-cream-sugar-set-green-mark-sugar.gif)
Mark variations:
- Inéke Victoria B.C. Canada
- Handmade by INÉKE _ _ _ _ Victoria B.C. Canada
- Handmade by INÉKE _ _ _ _ Victoria B.C.
- Inéke Canada
- Inéke
- Handmade Inéke Mattick’s Farm Victoria BC [ink stamp]
Pottery Glaze info: Each pottery piece is unique, each has a unique glaze – no two glazes are alike
- Autumn glaze is known to be from 1972-73. Pumpkin and green, or green on caramel or sandstone.
- Cobalt blue glaze, script underglaze: Inéke Victoria BC Canada – 1991- [from CDR]
- Yellow with caramel glaze, square stamp: ‘Handmade by Inéke, Victoria, BC Canada’ – 2000 [from CDR]
- Yellow with black glaze
- Orange rust with black glaze (unusual)
- Green with darker green glaze
Shapes & Forms:
The very popular free-form ‘Baskets’ were made from the 1970s – 1980s, and can be found in all of the glaze colours.
Pin dishes can be found with and without the applied ‘dogwood’ flower, and in most glaze colours.
Table cruet sets include a tray, salt & pepper shakers, oil pitcher, and lidded mustard pot.
Cups (espresso) and mugs (coffee & chocolate) may have a cute little ‘water’ creature on the bottom – I have seen frogs and ducks nestled comfortably on the bottom of these cups.
Vases range in size from tiny to medium size (5″ tall), and can be found in most of the typical glaze colours. They may have a smooth rim or a ruffled rim.
Small handled jugs seem to be used interchangeably as creamers in a cream & open sugar set and as stand-alone sauce pitchers.
Breakfast or luncheon sets include 2 small mugs, 2 egg cup holders, 2 Candle holders, Sugar & Creamer, Cruet set, Vinegar bottle, Bud floater vase.
Sculptural piece, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Victoria, B.C. Canada. 3-1/2″ h, x 5-1/2″ l, x 2-1/2″ deep. Hand painted over incised lines – yellow roof, tan chimneys, grey stone, green grass base. (Fun, no doubt tourist, item.) Stamped mark: Made in Victoria, B.C. Canada. By Inéke (see Comment below).
Special thanks to Inéke’s children, David, Wendy and June, for providing information about her life.
I’m wondering how much is the Nabob bus shaped teapot worth?
Val, thank you for your inquiry. I do not do online evaluations, and suggest online marketplaces are the best resource for values at any given time. To evaluate current dollar values, do an internet search for the teapot.
Maria
Have 3 pieces. Small mug. 2 larger mugs with a frogs
on the bottom.. I gave one each to my Dad & Mom (who passed 9 days apart) So now I have them back. The fun thing I said to Dad because he used it for beer. Was if the frog starts to hop you had enough. (He never drank enough to see the frog hop) A smile. I bought them at Double cottage on Mt.Newton & West Saanich.
What a special memory! I have a yellow mug and a green one with frogs on the bottom. They make me smile too.
Maria
I bought a beautiful 4 inch vase at a good will store in Darien, Illinois USA. It was dirty and sticky. I knew it was special! When I got home I washed her up, shiny and pretty blue colors. I took pictures and tried to find information about it. I didn’t find anything at that time. I put it in my China cabinet, eye level front and center. I’m so glad to finally find this story! I will keep it in my China cabinet and look at it everyday! Thank you for doing your research and sharing it! And thank you to Inke for making this beautiful little blue vase!
Thank you for your story. It is a special moment with a treasure is revealed. Maria.
Lovely little yellow and green rimmed plate with white dogwood flower (perhaps a pin bowl? Approx.4″)
It is lovely. I have one in a green glaze. It’s one of my favourites. Maria.
I believe I own a piece of this pottery. The green glazed mustard pot.
Hi,
I recently found a piece of Ineke pottery. An adorable yellow mug with a duckling on the inside bottom. I have attached a photo if your are interested.
All the best,
Justin James
The Curios Agency
What a lovely piece of Ineke pottery, Justin. Thank you for sharing it.
I have an Ineke coffee mug purchased years ago in Castlegar, B.C. It is still in near-daily use, and I treasure it.
Gerald Palsson
Tucson, Arizona
Ineke mugs are worth treasuring. Thank you for sharing.
I just found a piece at a thrift store…turquoise shallow (children’s mug?) with a tiny duck in the bottom of it…for $2!! I LOVE it and was so glad to find all this information on this amazing artist!
Hi I’m June Kolodinski. I am Inekes oldest daughter and when I was young we all helped in the pottery as she turned a whole lot of pottery sometimes hundreds in a day for orders for Butchart Gardens and the B.C. ferries. It was my parents sole business and where they provided for us 5 children.
Hi June. I’m so pleased that you and your siblings have provided information on Ineke pottery. I will try to get your combined comments up on the main page soon. Maria
Hello, I am one of Ineke van’t Riets 5 children. Thank you for writing such a wonderful article about her. There are a few things that are not correct in the article so I thought I would clarify them. She was born on August 1, 1928. Survived WW2 in the Netherlands. At age 14 she began training with a potter in Holland. She married our dad
In 1951 and immigrated to Canada in 1953. After living in Calgary for 2 years our parents moved to Victoria. Cordova bay specifically. Then eventually moved to saanichton where they created Ineke Pottery and sold to Butchart Gardens, Bc Ferries, the old Fable Cottage and many more stores. Her work was very sought after. Unfortunately she passed away in 1997 but left us all with her treasures
Thank you for this additional information. This is so great! I will update the main page with the info your family has provided. I found an unusual Ineke piece just this last week. I’ll try to get it into the photo gallery soon. Maria
Ineke was my mother. they immigrated from Holland in 1952 and travelled working across canada. Their last stop before vacouver Island was in Alberta. She started potting in Cordova Bay around 1955 (first child born in1957) and moved to west saanich in 1962 ( the year I was born). She never went to George Jay.She transitioned to stoneware pottery in the 1980’s and produced almost nothing in the 90’s as she had cancer and past away Sept. 27,1997. I hope this helps and please contact if I can help more. I am always trying to find more pieces as well.
David, thank you for this information. This is fabulous! I will be adding these details to the main page. Maria
Help I have an item from her but we have no idea what it is and how old it is.
Paula, your piece is a ring-shaped flower trough bowl or vase, known as a Posy ring, used for floral table centerpieces. Place water into the bowl and add short-stemmed cut blooms, such as Gerbera daisies, roses, or other mid-sized blooms. You can then add a flameless candle in the center of the bowl and create a gorgeous table centerpiece. As for the time period, the blue glaze is most likely from the last decade, 1990-2000. Maria.
Used to be driven by there as a kid. Never did go in- but from a Dutch background myself I was always intrigued. When I went to visit the area later she was gone…may we all make the best of our allotted time.
I just found a blue glazed candle holder, 4″diameter,1 1/2″,with 1 3/8″ opening…..in a trash can! I see she was very prolific, so maybe it’s not worth much….but it’s very pretty in its simplicity.
Betsy, the value of an item is more than just monetary. If you love it, it is valuable. Maria.
I have a few pieces of pottery by Ineke. When I was a child, I would visit my grandmother who live near Ineke at Mt. Newton cross road and old west Saanich road. I remember visiting Ineke’s pottery shop but not much more than that. All my pottery from Ineke are gifts from my grandmother.
What a lovely memory, Mary. The location of the shop on Saanich road is very useful for the research. Thank you. Maria
Found these in my parents collection. They used to work for a grocery chain and had a Nabob representative give them these as a thank you. They are going to be retiring soon and are thinking about selling off some of their collectables. They were wondering how much these might be worth.
Here is the side shot
Jessi, these are really fabulous! Your unusual pieces will certainly fetch more money than the traditional Ineke pieces. I’m afraid I do not do valuations on this site. By searching Ineke Canada pottery in online marketplaces, I see that the more traditional pottery pieces range from $8.00-30.00. I would say that your parent’s items would be worth more than those pieces. I hope this helps. Maria.
Emily I am really sorry to hear of your grandmother’s passing. We were friends in elementary school and I lived about half a block away from her. I have a small collection of her pottery now after finding a piece in Westlock, Alberta. If you would email me I will tell you how I discovered that your grandmother was my friend Ineke. My email is voakland@gmail.com.
Thank you!
This is actually my grandmother, Ineke van’t Riet. She died about 19 years ago. If you want any information on her, feel free to ask or shoot us an email!
Emily, this is fabulous info! Thank you for contacting us. Please send me any info on your grandmother you feel comfortable sharing in this public page. I’ll add it to her Research page. Maria.
Absolutely! I will ask my family and get some information on her to give to you. I will reply again when I have more, hopefully soon!
In 1955 B.C. Directory, the Van’t Reit residence is listed as 4916 Maxine Lane in Victoria. Leendert [bookkeeper] and Ineke. This is consistent with mentions of her pottery shows etc in the local newsletter the Cordovan published by the Cordova Bay comm. association.
BC Ferry, looks like from the 1960’s (MV Tsawwassen) Ineke hand painted on bottom.
Was her studio in the double cottage at Mt. Newton and West Saanich Rd? If so, there may be some more info about her in the Central Saanich archives.
Ken, it is possible that her studio was located there – I don’t have a record of her exact location in Saanich. Is it possible for you to check the archives and report back to us? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Maria.
Hi, this is my grandmother, and I just confirmed with my mother that yes this is where her studio was.
I have a green on green 4″by 3″ carrying dish that has an ink stamp of a Butchart gardens on it, not engraved on the bottom. is this a replica?
Hi Rosanne. It is most likely not a replica – “Ineke pottery was made for specific places or events and many pieces were made for souvenir and gift shops, such as Mattick’s Farm, a shopping center on Cordova Bay Rd, Victoria, BC, Victoria’s world famous Butchart Gardens, and for shops on the BC Ferries.” If the dish is the same shape, and the glaze is the same glaze, as on the other pieces shown on this page, then it is an Ineke piece, as she was known to make souvenirs for the Butchart Gardens.
Maria
I also have some of her pottery. I have the forest green on lemon. I have the sugar bowl, creamer and vase.
Thanks, Kimberly, for the photo. These are such lovely pieces. Maria
Here’s another image. If I recall, Ineke lived with her family in a small cottage in the trees by Cordova Bay near Mattick’s Farm prior to moving to North Saanich… Mid-60’s?
Thanks, Peter, for the additional information about Ineke. I’ll add it to the main page when I verify the info. Maria.
Ineke was a family acquaintance when I was a child growing up in the 1960’s in Victoria. My mother bought two ceramic BC Ferry ashtrays from her and gave them to an uncle from the mainland who finally came over to visit. I remember these items because I recall asking what M.V. stood for (Motor Vessel) and also what “Chinook” meant. We were also fascinated by the fact that you could put a cigarette in the rear door of these vessels and smoke would come out of the chimney. Two years ago I ran into these (likely?) same two vessels at an antique barn in Abbotsford and promptly bought them.
Hi Peter. What a great memory! I traveled the BC Ferries as well as a child, going to visit cousins in Victoria. I don’t personally remember those ashtrays, though. Thanks for sending pictures. Maria
This is a long shot, but as a child in the 1980’s I received an Ineke mug with a little duck inside. It’s something I’ve always treasured and still have. I now have two kids of my own and they also love the mug. I’ve been looking for some time for a couple Ineke mugs so they could each have their own. Would you have any leads on where to look? I’ve Googled and searched Etsy and ebay, but have yet to come across any. Thank you for all of the terrific information on your website.
Hi Robin. There are people commenting on this page with Ineke mugs with ducks inside (see comments)- you could try to contact them to see if they are interested in parting with the duck mugs. I personally only have the mugs with frogs inside. Maria
Duck mug mark
From Carol —
I’m finally able to load images of this cute ‘duck’ mug.
From Larry B. —
Here is a vase (4″tall) that I got for 50 cents at a garage sale. I am a CA pottery collector.
I have a small (3″) vase (yellow and black with a dogwood at the neck). I am planning on putting it in a yard sale June 11th and I was wondering what would be a reasonable price?
Lee, I’m afraid I do not provide valuations through my website, but I can suggest pricing your items a few dollars above your normal yard sale pricing. It all depends on how much you want the pieces to sell – if you don’t mind keeping them if they do not sell, add more to your prices! Good luck at your yard sale this weekend. Maria
Hello.
I have a number of these pieces, cream & sugar, coffee mugs, salt & pepper in the orange / black and some in the green. Where is the best place to sell them? I am sure they are from the late 60’s.
Janice, I would say the best place to sell them would be on a local online sale board, such as Kijiji or a Local Facebook Buy & Sell group. Thanks for your inquiry. Maria.
Hi. I just bought a small blue vase/pot signed, wondering if her work is collectible and if any value? Beatiful little pot. Thank you.
Hi Laura. Ineke’s pottery is collectible to a small group of collectors interested in Canadian pottery. However, it is not very valuable money-wise to the general public. Yet. Her pieces are lovely, unique, hand-thrown pieces. If you love your vase, and it is valuable to you, then others will see the same value in it.
Maria
Hello, I’m sorry to hear that Ineke’s passed away. Would you have any idea where she passed away? If anyone ever comes across a picture of her I would love to see it. Thanks so much, Sheila
Hi Sheila,
I have no details on Ineke’s passing. My information came from a comment left by a reader. I will post your question, so check back for a response.
Maria
I have a fair size collection of Ineke pottery. She was a Dutch born woman wth small hands and therefore was able to make those tiny pieces. She was a prodigious producer and lots of her work can still be found. Interest though is waning. Unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge,
she passed away a few years ago.
Hi Ina,
Sorry I have not responded earlier – I just received your comment.
Thank you for the information on Ineke, the woman. I will update the page on Ineke’s pottery.
I find her pottery very interesting and I hope others continue to do so – the glaze patterns are so unique. We’ll just have to do our best to keep interest alive.
Thanks again,
Maria
Found a Ineke green candle holder,and got info.from B.C.Guilds.A Special Thanks to Betty Burroughs. Which I included photos, which is how Betty,identified it.
Thanks Terrence for the information. I will contact Betty Burroughs at BC Guilds for more info on this potter. I appreciate the tip. Maria.
Hello, We attended George Jay Elementary in Victoria in the 50s. I was told by an antique dealer in Alberta that she lived on a farm near Westlock, Alberta. About 7 years ago but was not able to track her down. I know her maiden name but because she didn’t use it as a potter, I don’t think I should share it. Thanks for your answer!
Hello, I have a small collection of Ineke’s pottery. Does anyone know where Ineke’s resides now. We were friends in elementary school and I would enjoy meeting her again.
Hi!
I don’t actually know anything about her. I would love to know more so that I can ‘flesh’ out this page on Ineke pottery. Would you be able to provide some details about her, such as when you were in elementary school together, what town (B.C.?) this was in? Would you possibly remember her last name? It would be great if you could find her again. Keep checking back here – maybe someone will come across your comment and have some info for you.
Maria
I have just found a sculptural piece of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Victoria, B.C. Canada. 3 1/2″ high, x 5 1/2″ long, x 2 1/2″ deep.
Hand painted over incised lines. Yellow roof, tan chimneys, grey stone, green grass base.
Fun, no doubt tourist, item.
Stamped mark:
Made in Victoria, B.C. Canada. By Ineke
Not sure how to post a pic.
Hi,
I apologize for not getting back to you sooner – your email ended up in my Spam blocker.
I’ve not seen anything like what you’ve described, so I’d love to see a picture and add it to this page on Ineke. If you attach the picture[s] to an email to me, I’ll see that it gets posted. Please include any info you’d like me to add – I’d like to provide credit for the photo.
Thanks again,
Maria
Hi… don’t know how old this post is, but was on a wandering internet search for a Tetley teapot made at Ineke’s.
Hi Alison. This is a new ‘In Progress’ website, so it is very much ‘current’. I’ve been away for a few weeks and hadn’t checked for comments – sorry I didn’t reply sooner. I’ve not seen a Tetley teapot made by Ineke, so I’m afraid I can’t help with that. However, I find it very interesting that there is one. I’ll certainly be watching for it. If I see anything, I’ll let you know. By the way, would you have any additional information on this BC pottery? I’m looking for any tidbit of info I can find. Thanks for contacting me. Keep checking the website and please keep in touch. Maria Haubrich.