Troika Pottery 1963-1983

Troika Pottery was founded in 1963 by three partners: Benny Sirota, Leslie Illsley, and Jan Thompson. Of the three, only Sirota had any experience as a potter; Illsley was an artist and sculptor, while Thompson was an architect and acted as a silent partner. The name Troika comes from the Russian word for “a group of three,” reflecting the original team—although by 1965 Thompson was no longer involved, having been bought out by the other two. Each partner put in £1,000 to buy the stock of Powell & Wells Pottery at Wheal Dream in St Ives and to lease the ground floor of the building as their studio.

To get started, they used leftover tile and doorknob blanks from Powell & Wells to make their first pieces. As the business grew, Illsley began producing moulds based on Sirota’s thrown and slab-built designs. Sirota also worked on building up the business side, securing partnerships with stores like Heal’s and Liberty. These helped balance the ups and downs of the summer tourist trade and meant Troika could stay open all year.

Over time, Troika became known for two main styles: smooth glazed pieces and, more famously, rough, textured ware. The textured pieces were usually made using moulds and then hand-decorated by Troika’s designers, allowing the company to meet demand while giving each piece individuality.

Troika Pottery was founded in 1963 by three partners: Benny Sirota (potter), Leslie Illsley (artist) and Jan Thompson (architect and silent partner). The name Troika means ‘a group of three’ in Russian, describing the initial makeup of the company, although by 1965 Thompson was no longer involved, having been bought out by the other two partners. Each partner invested £1,000 in buying out the stock of Powell & Wells Pottery at Wheal Dream in St. Ives and leasing the ground floor of the building for their studio. 

Initially to get up and running they used blanks left over from Powell & Wells to complete pieces. Once established Illsley began making moulds based off Sirota’s thrown and slab-built designs. Sirota spent some time building the business, developing partnerships with Heal’s and Liberty department stores to supplement the fluctuating business they received from the tourist trade, and allowing them to open all year round. 

In 1970 St. Ives Council, who owned Wheal Dream, decided that they needed the premises for a St Ives Museum project and terminated Troika Pottery’s lease. Troika moved a larger premises in Fradgan Place, Newlyn in September that year, maintaining a Troika shop in St. Ives run by Sirota. 

In the late 70s fashions began to change, spelling trouble for Troika. In 1978 Heal’s stopped selling Troika and in 1979 the government doubled VAT on pottery. By the early 80s cheap pottery from overseas began flooding the market. The drop in demand meant the staff could only work a three-day week. In 1983 the bank foreclosed on the company’s loan, with Illsley being forced to sell his house to try and make the payments. The combination declining sales and mounting debts proved to be too much, and Troika Pottery closed in December 1983.

Below are some highlights from a group of Troika pottery offered in lots 111–123 of April’s Cardiff Monthly auction, all from a single-owner collection.

Cardiff Monthly auction takes place on 28th April at 10am. 

View the full catalogue here.