Handmade Ceramic Fisherman Vase Bertie Brine Super Seconds

Meet Bertie Brine, fisherman, sea-dog and teller of extraordinarily long stories about the one that got away.

Bertie has spent most of his life beside the sea. He knows when the tide is turning simply by looking at the gulls, can tie a knot for practically any occasion and insists he once caught a fish "this big", although strangely, the size increases every time he tells the story.

You'll rarely find him without his favourite striped fisherman's jumper and trusty red woolly hat. He's a creature of habit: early mornings, strong tea, a pocketful of boiled sweets and home before the weather turns.

Underneath that magnificent beard, however, Bertie is a complete softie. He'd much rather return a fish to the sea than put it on his plate.

Handmade and individually hand-painted in my Shropshire studio, Bertie Brine is a one-of-a-kind ceramic fisherman vase, decorated with warm red stripes, a dark painted beard, rosy cheeks and his wonderfully characterful handmade fisherman's hat.

His head and hat form the opening of the vase, perfect for displaying dried flowers, a little posy or a few favourite stems. Or simply pop him on a shelf and let Bertie do what Bertie does best — sit quietly and contemplate life.

Why is Bertie a Super Second?

Even an old sea-dog occasionally encounters choppy waters and Bertie's happened to be inside the kiln!

There are areas of overglazing, some smudging and areas where the glaze hasn't taken as intended. You'll also notice the lovely irregularities that come from his being individually made and painted by hand.

These imperfections mean Bertie doesn't quite meet my usual standards for a full-priced Sister Sister piece, so he's joining the Super Seconds Festival.

I've photographed his imperfections as clearly as possible, so please take a good look through all the images before purchasing.

He's still completely unique, full of character and rather good at holding flowers — he simply has a few more weathered patches than originally intended.

Perfect for: lovers of quirky ceramics, coastal homeware, fisherman gifts, character pottery, unusual handmade vases and one-of-a-kind British ceramics.

Flowers not included. Tall fishing tales, strong opinions about the weather and imaginary catches of enormous proportions included free of charge. 🎣😂

Approximate measurements:  Height 13cm x Width 9cm x Depth 4cm